News

This is the true spirit of Statesboro High School its faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni...helping those in need. Whether it's raising nearly $20,000 for American Red Cross Hurricane Relief in 2005 with Katrina to today with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, to being a hub for Feed the Boro at Thanksgiving to sending chess sets around the world to Uganda for Sports Outreach Institute (SOI), SHS has a heart of service. Thank you to all of the businesses and individuals who helped make the Sept. 22 fundraiser for American Red Cross Hurricane Relief a success.

Statesboro High School was closed unexpectedly for three days due to Hurricane Irma, which caused them to reorganize and reschedule their original BBQ Fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey. Their fortitude will result in nearly $10,000 for the American Red Cross.

These are a few post-Hurricane Irma announcements.
​Statesboro High BBQ Fundraiser for

American Red Cross Hurricane Relief
Statesboro High School's rescheduled BBQ Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief is today from 4-7 p.m. The school has sold nearly 1,000 tickets, which will enable them to donate nearly $10,000 to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Relief Fund. Many local and area businesses like Claxton Poultry, Ellis Meats, Fred's Pharmacy, McCook's Pharmacy, and Southern Pharmacy and others have made this a community-wide effort to help the regions in the United States ravaged by hurricanes.

There are still tickets available. The tickets are $10 per person and are being sold today at the northeast rear corner of the school from 4-7 p.m. The plate consists of 1/2 bbq chicken, coleslaw, green beans, and dessert.

Plates can be picked up at the rear of the school between 4-7. You can walk up and carry out, dine in the cafeteria, or a drive-through line is available. If you are a Statesboro High School Blue Devil fan, it's a great way to enjoy dinner on campus with fellow alumni in the cafeteria before tonight's Homecoming Game against Appling County.

Thank you to SHS's Jake Collins and all the faculty, staff, students and parents of SHS for their efforts and their fortitude to reorganize and reschedule the event when it had to be rescheduled from its original date due to Hurricane Irma.

Hurricane Irma No Make-up Days Required for Missed Days
Superintendent Charles Wilson has announced that there will be no required make up days for the three school days missed during Hurricane Irma.

USDA's Disaster Relief Provides

Free School Meals in Bulloch Co. Sept.21-29
Bulloch County Schools will provide free school lunches to all students, on Sept. 21 through Sept. 29, thanks to Hurricane Irma disaster relief support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The school district already provides free breakfast for all students, but will add lunches for the next seven days to help families offset any hardships incurred due to the storm. The USDA announced Tuesday, that children in Florida and 35 Georgia school districts would receive free meals

In a statement released by USDA, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue of Georgia said the relief helps ensure all those dealing with the aftermath of Irma have food, and recognized the importance of public schools in disaster response.

“Schools play a vital role in ensuring that America’s children get the nutrition they need all year long through USDA’s nutrition assistance programs, but the need they fill is even more apparent in the wake of storms like Hurricane Irma,” Perdue said.

Other flexibilities announced for affected areas of Georgia include:
◾Providing school systems the option to operate the Seamless Summer Option during the school year to continue serving students meals when schools have unanticipated closures. This was a measure Bulloch County Schools had already planned to implement had Hurricane Irma caused extended school closures in Bulloch County.
◾Allowing schools not directly affected by the hurricane to use their commodity foods to provide plated meals to shelters or other school food service operations.
◾Allowing two schools to operate at the same location and claim meals separately for reimbursement through National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.
◾Reducing administrative burden on schools dealing with hurricane recovery by approving several waivers and extensions of timelines related to administrative and operational activities.

Bulloch County Schools will provide free school lunches to all students, on Sept. 21 through Sept. 29, thanks to Hurricane Irma disaster relief support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The school district already provides free breakfast for all students, but will add lunches for the next seven days to help families offset any hardships incurred due to the storm. The USDA announced Tuesday, that children in Florida and 35 Georgia school districts would receive free meals

In a statement released by USDA, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue of Georgia said the relief helps ensure all those dealing with the aftermath of Irma have food, and recognized the importance of public schools in disaster response.

“Schools play a vital role in ensuring that America’s children get the nutrition they need all year long through USDA’s nutrition assistance programs, but the need they fill is even more apparent in the wake of storms like Hurricane Irma,” Perdue said.

Other flexibilities announced for affected areas of Georgia include:
◾Providing school systems the option to operate the Seamless Summer Option during the school year to continue serving students meals when schools have unanticipated closures. This was a measure Bulloch County Schools had already planned to implement had Hurricane Irma caused extended school closures in Bulloch County.
◾Allowing schools not directly affected by the hurricane to use their commodity foods to provide plated meals to shelters or other school food service operations.
◾Allowing two schools to operate at the same location and claim meals separately for reimbursement through National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.
◾Reducing administrative burden on schools dealing with hurricane recovery by approving several waivers and extensions of timelines related to administrative and operational activities.

The SHINE Clubhouse of Statesboro will host a free Resources for Recovery showcase on Saturday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., at Statesboro High School. The event will show families the different resources Bulloch County has to offer for children and youth with mental health, substance abuse and co-occuring disorders.

The S.H.I.N.E. Resiliency Support Clubhouse of Statesboro is one of six support clubhouses in the state offered through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD). Locally, it is part of Pineland BHDD.

According to the Georgia BHDD, SHINE is a resiliency support clubhouse that provides comprehensive and unique services for children and families coping with the isolation, stigma, and other challenges of mental health disorders. The clubhouse programs provide supportive services that include educational supports, employment services, peer support, family engagement, social activities, and other initiatives geared to engage children and youth and assist them in managing behaviors and symptoms. They also offer after school activities.

Bulloch County Schools' counselors, social workers, Special Education Department and Student Support Department partner with resource organizations like Pineland to serve students. For more information about the Resources for Recovery event or SHINE's services, contact Akilah S. King, program manager for SHINE Clubhouse, at 912.764.1964 or aking@pinelandcsb.org

Liz Driggers, a Health and Physical Education teacher and coach at Statesboro High School has been selected by the Georgia Department of Education to serve on the 2017-18 State School Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council.

The council is comprised of teachers from across the state representing elementary, middle, and high schools and all subject areas. The purpose is to meet in small groups and participate in informal conversations regarding issues that are of concern to teachers and to share ideas with State Superintendent Richard Woods and Chief of Staff Matt Jones.

The council meets twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. The Teacher Advisory Council's first meeting is Friday, Oct. 20, at the GaDOE's office in Atlanta.

Driggers is a graduate of Georgia Southern where she is a double Eagle earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health and physical education and kinesiology. She also earned a specialist’s degree in the Pedagogy of Coaching from Valdosta State University. In October 2015, Driggers was selected as Bulloch County Schools' 2017 Teacher of the Year. Her seven-year teaching career has all been in Statesboro High School and Bulloch County Schools.

Driggers is a strong advocate for education as a career. "As an educator, one of the greatest things you can do is to inspire the next generation to become a teacher," she said.

Synovus, Georgia Southern University College of Education and Bulloch County Schools congratulates the first Synovus Teacher of the Game, Simone Lane of William James Middle School. Dignitaries from these sponsors plus Superintendent Charles Wilson surprised Ms. Lane in her classroom on Sept. 1. Mikaela Dekle, the student who nominated her, was also on hand to read the winning essay she wrote about her.

Now a sophomore at Statesboro High School, Dekle shared that Lane, her former sixth-grade science teacher, "Not only was a teacher to me, she was a mother figure at my lowest point of my life when I wanted to give up. Some things she said to me still stick with me till this day." Dekle added, "She definitely deserves to be recognized for her amazing mentoring and motherly acts."

Synovus and the Georgia Southern University College of Education asked fourth grade through twelfth grade students to nominate teachers who have made a difference in their lives. They have been thrilled to receive over 600 nominations. A teacher will be chosen and announced at each home game as the Synovus Teacher of the Game.

Through its "Here's to Teachers” campaign, Synovus would like to say thank you to all teachers for the impact you have made and continue to make in the lives of young people.

Ms. Lane was to have been recognized on the field and video board at the Sept. 9 GA Southern home football game. Due to Hurricane Irma, she will now be recognized at the Oct. 4 home game. Synovus and GA Southern will select a Synovus Teacher of the Game for each Eagles' home game this football season.

To see a video of the announcement at William James Middle School, click here.

Georgia Pre-Kindergarten Week is October 2 -6, and Bulloch County Schools' pre-k faculty and students look forward to celebrating the 25th year of this early learning program in our state.

"It’s an opportunity to showcase the program's success, increase awareness and strengthen community support for our youngest learners," said Dr. Yvette Ledford, director of the school system's pre-k program

The school system’s Pre-K sites are set to welcome parents, special guests and elected officials into their classrooms during the first week of October. In its seventh year, Georgia Pre-K Week showcases the state-funded pre-kindergarten program which was started in 1992, and heralded as a national model. Since that time more than 1.5 million students have been served statewide.

Legislators Support Pre-Kindergarten

Celebrity readers including more than 100 legislators statewide will visit Pre-kindergarten centers in their districts to read to children, meet with teachers, tour Pre-K classrooms and observe learning. Local legislators, like Rep. Jan Tankersley, have made reading to students during Pre-K Week an annual tradition. This year’s state-adopted book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This book uses vivid illustrations and sequence to teach the life cycle of a butterfly.

Pre-K Week Classroom Activities

Classrooms will incorporate book-themed activities each day during Pre-K Week. Below you will find a schedule of events:

Think About It Thursday-Using critical thinking skills to solve problems

Family First Friday on October 6

Families are invited to visit pre-k classrooms during a designated time during the school day. Contact your school for details.

Families are also invited to visit the Averitt Center for the Arts’ third-floor Youth Gallery in downtown Statesboro where pre-kindergarten students’ artwork will be exhibited throughout the month of October. The exhibit will open during Main Street Statesboro’s First Friday event from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 6. Pre-K faculty will be present to greet guests.

Bulloch County Schools’ Pre-Kindergarten Program

Bulloch County Schools has 19 pre-k classes located at 12 sites on the district's elementary and high school campuses. The classes serve a total of 416 students. Bulloch County Schools also serves special needs students through its Preschool Intervention Program. The school system has 38 pre-k teachers and assistant teachers. Principals and assistant principals serve as site directors at their campuses, and Dr. Yvette Ledford at the central office is the program's project director.

History of Georgia Pre-K Week

Georgia Pre-K Week is organized by Voices for Georgia’s Children and endorsed by Bright from the Start, Georgia's Department for Early Care and Learning (DECAL). Synovus and Georgia Power Company are corporate sponsors for the statewide event. Established in 2003, Voices for Georgia's Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected to their family and community. Their mission is to be a powerful, unifying voice for a public agenda that ensures the wellbeing of all of Georgia’s children.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m., in the school system's Central Office Board Room, located at 150 Williams Road, in Statesboro. Key topics for discussion include the Fiscal Year 2018 Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Act of 2006 federal grant funding for the school system's Career Technical & Agricultural Education program; a proposal to renew the district's iReady assessment software; the Board of Education's Board Governance Training, and a proposed revision to Board Policy JBC - School Admissions.

The Board was scheduled to hear a presentation from Sharpe Solutions about the annual evaluation of Langston Chapel Elementary School's 21st Century Community Learning Centers for grades K-2 and 3-5. Sharpe Solutions is unable to attend due to Hurricane Irma, and this presentation will be rescheduled.

Updated 9/13/17: Langston Chapel Middle School, Stilson Elementary, Sallie Zetterower Elementary, and Southeast Bulloch Middle School have rescheduled their Title I Annual Meetings due to Hurricane Irma. See list below for updated times.

Opportunity to ask, learn & take part in education

Parents and the community are encouraged to take part in Bulloch County Schools’ series of annual Title I Parent Meetings in August and September. The school system has 13 Title I schools, which includes all campuses except Southeast Bulloch High School and Statesboro High School.

Ask, Learn & Give Feedback

The sessions are an opportunity for parents and the community to ask questions, give feedback. and learn about each Title I school’s proposed plans and goals for improvement. Principals and faculty will share their Parent & Family Engagement Plans, the School - Parent Compact, and the Parent's Right to Know. Parents can also learn more about the Title I resources available to them and review how Title I funds are used.

Get Involved & Find Resources to Help Your Child Learn

Each school’s parent and family engagement liaison will share ways to be involved with the school and your child’s education. They will also share about the schools’ Family Resource Centers. They are a library of unique tools you can check out to help your child at home with homework or give extra help to learn a concept.

We are very thankful that Bulloch County did not receive widespread damage from the storm and that no one was seriously injured.

All of our schools will reopen on a normal schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 13, except Nevils Elementary. We will make a decision about Nevils Elementary by 8 p.m. tonight. All of our schools have power and water, except Nevils Elementary, which does not have water, but workers are addressing the issue.

We understand that families were affected by the storm in different ways. If you decide you are unable to return when schools reopen, provide a parent note when you return, and your school's principal will work with you and decide if absences are excused. If you are an employee, and you will not be here Wednesday, please communicate with your principal or supervisor.

None of our schools were damaged during the storm. Our Transportation Department and School Food Services Department made proper preparations before the storm to ensure fuel supplies and the safety of our food supplies.

Bulloch County is up and running today. After meeting with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency, law enforcement, public works and local utility providers, it is safe to reopen our schools. All other public, private and charter K-12 schools in Bulloch County are reopening Wednesday as well.

If you evacuated out of the area and are driving back, the Georgia Department of Transportation encourages you to use alternate state and federal highway routes. These are usually under utilized and Interstates 16, 75, and 95 may be very crowded.

We understand that Georgia Southern and Ogeechee Technical College are closed on Wednesday. Their operations and decisions will usually differ from ours because GA Southern has to consider its student housing on campus and the fact that both GS and OTC have faculty and student bases from not only surrounding counties but statewide.

The Bulloch Volunteer Organization Active in Disasters (VOAD) is providing meals at First Methodist Church and setting up mobile meal deliveries to Bird Road, Cypress Lake, and Plantation Mobile Home Parks, and Park Place Apartment Complex and Hill's Mortuary Parking Lot at approximately 1:30 p.m. today. If you or someone you know is in need of food, this is a free service to our community for those in need.

Make plans for schools to be open for a normal day on Wednesday; however, a final decision about specific school schedules will be made by 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, Sept. 12. Road crews and electric utilities are out in force this morning clearing roadways and restoring power. Their progress by late afternoon will give us a clearer picture, this is why we are delaying our decision from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

None of our schools were damaged during the storm. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, all of our schools have electricity except Nevils Elementary, Portal Elementary and Portal Middle High School. Depending on the progress of electric utility crews in these areas, we will know by 5 p.m. if these schools can reopen.

Our Transportation Department and School Food Services Department made proper preparations before the storm to ensure fuel supplies and the safety of our food supplies.

We understand that families were affected by the storm in different ways. If you decide you are unable to return when our schools reopen, provide a parent note when you return, and your school's principal will decide if absences are excused.

If you are without power, Southeast Bulloch High School's George Roebuck Field House will be open Tuesday until 5 p.m. for anyone to use its restroom and shower facilities.

Continue to remain off roadways. The mandatory curfew issued by the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department is in effect until further notice.

Tornado Watches & Warnings

We are under a tornado watch until 10 p.m Monday.

School Closings & Projected Reopening

Bulloch County Schools will be closed Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, for all students and employees. This schedule will not change. Our tentative plan is to reopen Wednesday; however, we will assess conditions on Monday and Tuesday and make a final decision and announcement by 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Monitor the media and our communications for any further updates about how our schedule may be affected for the remainder of the week. We will provide updates at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily during the storm.

According to Bulloch County EMA, there are power outages throughout Bulloch County. Do not contact 911 to report power outages.

Remain off roadways. The mandatory curfew issued by the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department is in effect until further notice.

Tornado Watches & Warnings

According to Bulloch County Emergency Management, tornadoes are one of our significant threats. The greatest potential for tornadoes exists between 4:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday. Expect heavy rain of six or more inches.

School Closings & Projected Reopening

Bulloch County Schools will be closed Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, for all students and employees. This schedule will not change. Our tentative plan is to reopen Wednesday; however, we will assess conditions on Monday and Tuesday and make a final decision and announcement by 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Monitor the media and our communications for any further updates about how our schedule may be affected for the remainder of the week. We will provide updates at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily during the storm.

Schools Not Activated as Shelters

Because Bulloch County is in Hurricane Irma's path, the American Red Cross and Bulloch County EMA did not activate our schools to be used as shelters to house evacuees. There are volunteer-staffed good-Samaritan shelters available. Visit bullochscountyvoad.org for a complete list.

Schools to be used for Staging Grounds

Some of our schools will be used as staging grounds for the Georgia Department of Transportation's personnel and outposts for the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department. Do not be alarmed if you see these or other first-responder vehicles at our schools.

Please note these updates from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Sheriff's Department.

Mandatory Curfew Begins Sunday 11 p.m. Until Further Notice

The Bulloch County Sheriff's Department has issued a mandatory curfew in Bulloch County. It begins at 11 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, and remains in effect until further notice. Stay off the roadways.

Utilities - Roadways - Restoration

Expect falling trees and power outages. Be prepared for extended power outages. There will be a period during the storm where it will not be safe for utility, law enforcement and public safety employees to work.

According to Bulloch County Emergency Management, tornadoes are one of our significant threats. The greatest potential for tornadoes exists between 4:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday.

Our plan is to resume school on Wednesday; however, we will assess conditions on Monday and Tuesday and make a final decision about reopening by 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Because Bulloch County is in Hurricane Irma's path, the American Red Cross and Bulloch County EMA did not activate our schools to be used as shelters to house evacuees. There are volunteer-staffed good-Samaritan shelters available. Visit bullochscountyvoad.org for a complete list.

School Closings

Bulloch County Schools will be closed Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, for all students and employees. This schedule will not change. Monitor the media and our communications for any further updates about how our schedule may be affected for the remainder of the week. We will provide updates at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily during the storm.

Schools to be used for Staging Grounds

Some of our schools will be used as staging grounds for the Georgia Department of Transportation's personnel and outposts for the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department. Do not be alarmed if you see these or other first-responder vehicles at our schools.

Please note these updates from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Sheriff's Department.

Mandatory Curfew Begins Sunday 11 p.m. Until Further Notice

The Bulloch County Sheriff's Department has issued a mandatory curfew in Bulloch County. It begins at 11 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, and remains in effect until further notice. Stay off the roadways.

Weather Predictions

Tropical storm-force winds will arrive in our area tonight at 8 p.m. and into the early morning hours of Monday.

Early Monday through Monday afternoon expect tornado watches and warnings. According to Bulloch County Emergency Management, tornadoes are one of our significant threats. The greatest potential for tornadoes exists between 4:00 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday.

Expect heavy rain of six or more inches.

Utilities - Roadways - Restoration

Expect falling trees and power outages. Be prepared for extended power outages. There will be a period during the storm where it will not be safe for utility, law enforcement and public safety employees to work.

Bulloch County Schools will be closed Monday, Sept. 11, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, for all students and employees. This schedule will not change. Monitor the media and our communications for any further updates about how our schedule may be affected for the remainder of the week. We will provide updates at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily during the storm.

Some of our schools will be used as staging grounds for the Georgia Department of Transportation's personnel and outposts for the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department. Do not be alarmed if you see these or other first-responder vehicles at our schools.

Please note these updates from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Sheriff's Department.

The Bulloch County Sheriff's Department has issued a mandatory curfew in Bulloch County. It begins at 11 p.m. on Sunday, and remains in effect until further notice. Stay off the roadways.

Tropical storm-force winds will arrive in our area tonight at 8 p.m. and into the early morning hours of Monday.

Early Monday through Monday afternoon expect tornado watches and warnings.

Expect heavy rain of six or more inches.

Expect falling trees and power outages. Be prepared for extended power outages. There will be a period during the storm where it will not be safe for utility employees to work.

Based on the latest information available about Hurricane Irma, Bulloch County Schools will be closed Friday, Sept. 8 through Tuesday, Sept. 12, for all students and employees. We encourage you to monitor Bulloch County Schools and local media for regular updates about how the storm may affect school operations beyond Tuesday.

Communications During an Emergency

The Superintendent, Chief Operations Officer and Public Relations Specialist maintain regular contact with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency during all weather and safety events that affect our school system.

We provide updates to these media outlets for them to publish and broadcast:

WTOC – Channel 11 (CBS Affiliate)

WTGS – Channel 24 (Fox Affiliate)

WJCL – Channel 28 (ABC Affiliate)

WSAV – Channel 3 (NBC Affiliate)

Radio Statesboro – Eagle 102.9

Statesboro Herald

Coastal Courier

All on Georgia - Bulloch

Loss of Telephone, Cellular & Internet Service

In the event that we lose telephone, cellular telephone, and Internet service for more than 24 hours, our status messages will be hand delivered to Eagle 102.9 and Bulloch County EMA. Radio will become the primary mode of communication if all other mediums are inaccessible. Bulloch County EMA and Bulloch VOAD will use Eagle 102.9 for continuous updates. Hurricane preparedness plans encourage citizens to have access to a radio with batteries.

If radio towers are down and Eagle 102.9 is unable to broadcast, this will signal that conditions are severe, and this should communicate to everyone that schools will be closed until further notice and communications and regular updates restored.

Hurricane Irma: School schedules to be announced Friday Bulloch County Schools will make an announcement on Friday, Sept. 8 by 1:00 p.m., about how its school schedules will be affected for the week of Sept. 11 – 15, due to Hurricane Irma. Based on the latest information from the National Weather Service and the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Hurricane Irma may affect Bulloch County early next week. On Friday the community will have the benefit of more precise information from the Bulloch County EMA. The school system is also monitoring Tropical Storm Katia and Tropical Storm Jose, which could follow Irma over the next 10 days.

Bulloch County Schools encourages families to monitor announcements from Bulloch County EMA, local and area media, and the school system’s website, social media, and One Call Now messaging system. This is how updated information about school schedules will be provided. Be sure to update any changes to your contact information with your child’s school.

Be prepared for school schedules to possibly be interrupted. This will either be caused by Bulloch County being in the impact zones of these storms or the school system’s facilities being used by the American Red Cross. If activated by the ARC, up to six schools could be used as shelters for evacuees or staging areas for local and state emergency response units, electric utilities, law enforcement and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Those schools are William James Middle, Langston Chapel Middle, Southeast Bulloch Middle, Statesboro High, Portal Middle High and Southeast Bulloch High. If Bulloch County is determined to be in the impact zone of these storms, ARC will not open shelters in Bulloch County.

At this time Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 storm with winds of 185 miles per hour (mph). Predicting the storm is hard five days out; however, it is not too early to plan. We have made preparations for operations, facilities, food and fuel. We encourage you to have a plan for your family. Bulloch County Schools always maintains contact with Bulloch County EMA with weather events and any situations which may affect the safety of our students.

All of Bulloch County Schools' campuses and Central Office will be closed on Monday, September 4, for the Labor Day holiday. Tuesday, September 5, is a holiday for students. This is a collaborative planning day for teachers and administrators. The district's Central Office will be open on Tuesday.

Bulloch County Schools' 2017-2018 Calendar is published inside the Student Handbook which was distributed to all students at Open House and the first day of school. The calendar is also available online at www.bullochschools.org/calendarsandmenus. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the 2017-2018 School Calendar in order to be prepared for holidays and breaks.

Competition connects Trigonometry with mapping & surveying careersSEB claims championship for 11th time;
SEB & PMHS take first & second for third time in six years

Southeast Bulloch High School’s (SEBHS) April Cintron won the 2017 State Trig-Star Championship and Alexis Royals of Portal Middle High School placed second. This marks the 11th state championship for SEBHS and the third time in five years that SEBHS and Portal have placed in the top two. Cintron and Royals advanced to the state competition after achieving the highest preliminary scores at both the school and county levels.

Cintron was recognized at the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia’s (SMSG) annual meeting and summer convention in Savannah on July 22. She and SEBHS Math Teacher Susan Boddiford each received a check for $750. This is the 12th year that a student from one of Bulloch County Schools’ three high schools has won the state-level event.

“I think the key to our success is a combination of the financial reward associated with winning at the state level, the knowledge that our school as had state winners so it is realistic to actually win, and a friendly rivalry within the classes to see who can score the highest within our school,” said SEBHS Math Teacher Susan Boddiford.

“Prior to the competition, we spend one to two days in class showing them a sample format of the test and working through old test questions. I then leave it to them to practice any additional problems on their own time.”

More than 10,000 students each year participate in the Trig-Star competition. TRIG-STAR champions are mathematics students who have demonstrated in competition that they are the most skilled among classmates in the practical application of trigonometry. The competition for the annual honor is a timed exercise which involves solving trigonometry problems that incorporate the use of right triangle formulas, circle formulas, the law of sines, and the law of cosines.

Trig-Star is sponsored locally by the Statesboro surveying firm of James M. Anderson & Associates, at the state level by the SMSG and nationally by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). The contest helps promote how those skilled in mathematics can seek careers in the surveying and mapping industry.

Any student who participates in the Trig-Star competition and plans to enroll in a college degree program or a four-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree in surveying and mapping (the Land Surveying Profession) is eligible to apply for the NSPS Foundation Trig-Star scholarship of $5,000. The applicant is not required to have previously won at any level of competition, but must have participated in the contest offered at their high school.

The competition is open to any student who is sponsored by a local surveying company. The SMSG registers the entire state for the Trig-Star, so there is no cost to a local surveying company to sponsor a school. If you are a surveyor and are interested in becoming a sponsor for your community’s local high school(s) in the 2017-2018 competition, contact Jim Anderson at James M. Anderson & Associates, Inc. 912-764-2002.

In an effort to serve those who need assistance following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, the students and faculty of Statesboro High School are sponsoring a BBQ Chicken Dinner Fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 8, from 4 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

"Claxton Poultry has come on board as our major sponsor by donating 1,000 chicken halves," said SHS Math Teacher Jake Collins, who is coordinating the event. "I am overwhelmed by the veracity of donations and the number of community volunteers signing up to help, but again this is Statesboro. People see the devastation and want to help and this is a local way to do it. I'm just blessed to help."

SHS Seeks Additional Commercial Grills & Volunteer Cooks

Collins and his volunteers have 10 large grills, but are seeking additional ones if local businesses or individuals would like to donate the use of their large commercial grills. SHS has a team of cooks ready too, but if any local cooking teams or individuals would like to volunteer to help cook on Friday, contact Jake Collins at jcollins@bullochschools.org.

BBQ Plates, Tickets, Pick-up, Dine-in, or Delivery

The BBQ plates will include one-half chicken, green beans, coleslaw, bread, and dessert. Tickets for plates are $10 each and may be purchased at Statesboro High School, McCook's Pharmacy, Southern Pharmacy, Fred's Pharmacy, or from SHS teachers. Advance ticket purchases are preferred, but walk-up orders are welcome as supply of unsold plates lasts.

They will be distributed on the SHS campus behind the school on the northeast side of the building near the entrance to the old Junior Varsity Gym. Drive-thru pick up service is available from 4-7 p.m., or patrons may pick up their plate and eat in the SHS Cafeteria prior to the school's home football game against Screven County High School. Delivery service is also available to business locations with group orders of 10 or more.

Statesboro and Bulloch County were affected by Hurricane Matthew last year but escaped the extensive damage being experienced in Texas. It is the prayer of Statesboro's students and teachers that these funds help families in need to recover and rebuild.

SHS and Collins conducted a similar fundraiser in 2005, with Hurricane Katrina and raised more than $10,000 for disaster relief. If you are unable to participate in this fundraiser, consider donating to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund by texting HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10. For more information, contact Jake Collins at jcollins@bullochschools.org.

Sarah Grace Hunter, a member of the Southeast Bulloch High School National FFA Organization Chapter, has been selected to serve as an Area 4 Junior Representative for the Georgia FFA Association. Hunter began her term on Aug. 4, as area officers from across the state met at Camp John Hope in Fort Valley for the Georgia FFA Area Officer Training Conference.

Forty-eight new officers from six areas of the state attended the two-day orientation and training conference. Officers met with regional agricultural education staff, the Georgia FFA leadership program specialist, the FFA executive secretary, and the state FFA advisor to discuss their roles and responsibilities. They also learned decision making skills, developed a team leadership philosophy, explored their roles as FFA ambassadors, and set goals for the coming year.

Throughout this school year, Hunter and her fellow officers will represent Area 4 FFA members at a variety of meetings, career development events, leadership conferences and area training activities. Their first assignments will be the upcoming FFA Leadership Rally in September at Camp John Hope and FFA Day at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA, on Oct. 10. Each officer team is charged with creating booths and displays that showcase the benefits of FFA and agricultural education. This spring, Hunter and her fellow Area Officers will plan and host the Area 4 Banquet and Award Assembly. Area officers also serve as members of the courtesy corps at the 90th State FFA Convention in Macon, on April 26-28.

SEBHS’s FFA is a 2-Star Gold Emblem Chapter and has multiple members who have achieved National Proficiency Awards. In addition to Hunter’s service at the Area level, chapter member Laura Beth Bland is currently serving as Central Region State Vice President for the Georgia FFA Association. The Chapter is advised by SEBHS Agriculture Education Teachers Brian Elrick and Hannah Elrick.

The Georgia FFA Association has a membership of more than 37,000, making it the third largest association in the nation. The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, changed its name in 1988 to reflect the growth and diversity of agriculture. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA-12) will host a Military Academy Day on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Military Science Building, located at 4526 Old Register Rd., on the campus of Georgia Southern University. All students in grades 8 – 12 and their families are invited to attend. Interested students are asked to RSVP by Sept. 1, to Paul Lynch at paul.lynch@mail.house.gov or 912.243.9452.

The event will provide information on each of the nation’s five Service Academies: United States Military Academy (West Point), United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Merchant Marines Academy, and the United States Coast Guard Academy. Admissions liaisons from each will be available, and it is an opportunity to leran about the application and nomination process, which is extremely competitive, so early preparation is encouraged.

The admissions criteria includes the following: strong academic performance and standardized test scores, athletics or other extracurricular activities, leadership experience, community involvement, and a Congressional nomination (except for the Coast Guard Academy, which is a national competition that does not require nomination).

Our nation’s Military Service Academies offer a full, four-year education including tuition, books, and board. Graduates receive a bachelor’s degree and are commissioned as officers in their respective branches of service. There is also an obligation of military service that must be met. This is an excellent post-secondary option for students who want to combine their military interests with a college education. See the attached flyer for more information.

Bulloch County Schools’ three high schools will host graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2018 on May 24 – 26, at each campus’ athletic complex. Portal Middle High School’s commencement is Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m., Statesboro High School’s is Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m., and Southeast Bulloch High School’s is Saturday, May 26 at 8:30 a.m. The three events will be live streamed and archive videos placed on the school system’s website.

Last year the school system renewed the district’s former tradition of hosting the annual events at the three high schools. “This change was well received by members of the Class of 2017,” said Superintendent Charles Wilson. “These stadiums hold many memories for our graduates, and we are appreciative to our faculty and staff across the district who come together to plan these ceremonies.”

Because the ceremonies will be outside, weather conditions were a major factor in setting the times for graduation. In May our area is subject to extreme heat and late afternoon thunderstorms. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be moved to each schools’ gymnasiums and seating will be limited. Graduation times are staggered to accommodate those who need to attend more than one ceremony.

Georgia Southern University and Synovus/Sea Island Bank launched a “Here’s to Teachers” campaign on Aug. 28, to highlight educators, teaching as a profession and the University's College of Education. They will announce the first Teacher of the Game on Friday, Sept. 1 in Bulloch County.

The educator will be the first of five Synovus Teachers of the Game winners who will be honored during the Eagles’ upcoming home football games. Nominated by students, winning teachers will be special guests at Paulson Stadium during home games, and the University will recognized them on Paulson Stadium’s video board and social media platforms on game day.

In a statement released by the university, Dr. Thomas Koballa, Dean of the College of Education said, “We are excited to partner with Synovus for this opportunity to showcase some of the many talented and influential educators we have working in this area. It is vital that we take the time to honor those who choose a career in teaching."

Synovus is accepting nominations from third - twelfth grade students at any of Bulloch County's public, private and charter schools. According to GA Southern's press release, students can nominate a teacher, past or present, by submitting one to three paragraphs answering the question, “How has this teacher made a difference in your life?” Entries may be submitted via email to jennalawson@seaislandbank.com with the subject line of “#herestoteachers” or in writing at any Synovus/Sea Island Bank location. Entries must be received by midnight, August 31.

Each “Synovus Teacher of the Game” will receive game day tickets and Bishop Pregame Social passes. “Here’s to Teachers” will culminate with the final Eagles home game on November 18, when all five teachers will be honored on the field at half-time.

This is the second time Synovus/Sea Island Bank has sought to honor local educators. In 2015, it received more than 500 entries for its "What My Teacher Means to Me" campaign. Local middle school students wrote essays about teachers who had a significant impact on their lives.

“The words of students proved what we already know: Teachers matter — to students, the community, and the future,” said Kim Brannen, Senior Vice President at Synovus/Sea Island Bank in a statement released by the University. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Georgia Southern University Athletics and the College of Education to honor teachers in this way.”

The Bulloch County Board of Education has rescheduled its August work session to Thursday, Aug. 31, at 6:30 p.m., in the Central Office Board Room in Statesboro. The Board will discuss the school system's balanced continuous improvement model that is being used to achieve student and educator growth.

Langston Chapel Elementary School was evacuated Thursday evening at approximately 5:45 p.m. by Principal Pam Goodman after an irritant in the air began making several people cough. Goodman contacted 911 to ensure safety. The Statesboro Fire Department responded immediately, and after a two-hour thorough investigation of the building, SFD Battalion Chief Jason Baker gave Goodman an “all clear” to re-enter the building and be open for normal school operations on Friday.

Goodman stated that there was nothing visible in the air and no odor. Three crews of SFD personnel checked the entire campus for any gas or chemical leaks. They checked all equipment, ventilation systems, and lighting systems for possible issues. With their meter devices, they did find a water fountain that was overheated. It was located in a hallway near the cafeteria where the parent meeting had been held. Fire Department personnel expressed that this could have been the cause.

The school system’s maintenance personnel responded to the scene as well. They have disconnected the water fountain until it can be repaired. Goodman will inspect the building again early tomorrow morning to ensure the building remains clear to welcome students and employees. Parents were called and emailed Thursday evening to make them aware of the incident and make them aware that the school will be open on Friday.

About 50 parents, faculty and some children were gathered for a scheduled meeting to discuss the school’s after school programs for grades K-5, which are funded by 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grants. The meeting did not resume. Families left the premises immediately after the evacuation.

The event is fun for competitive runners and the whole family. Form your own team of friends, teammates, coworkers, or neighbors, get active as a family or be a party of one, either way, it's fun for any fitness level. Warm up on the Courthouse Square, enjoy the scenic route through downtown Statesboro and its vibrant fall colors and end your trek at the Main Street Farmers Market, the Averitt Center for the Arts' Main Gallery or fuel up at one of our local restaurants.

Registration is $20 for students with a valid i.d. and $20 for members of teams of five or more. Individual registration is $25 prior to Nov. 4, and $30 thereafter.

Race day registration and packet pick up begins at 8 a.m., a mascot race and kids 1K fun run follows at 8:30. The 5K Turkey Trot begins at 9:00. Awards will be presented immediately following the race. See you Nov. 18.

All proceeds help the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education fund innovation grants for Bulloch County Schools' teachers, provide REACH Georgia Scholarships to deserving youth, and provide an annual grant of $1,000 to the school system's Teacher of the Year.

Four Statesboro High School students captured Gold and Silver awards in STAR event competitions during the Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference in Nashville, July 2-6. The wins capped off a successful year for the chapter which included 14 Region competitors that resulted in 12 state and five national qualifiers.

“The best moment for me is watching my students shine and grow,” said Bethany Gilliam, the SHS chapter advisor.

At nationals Angela Smith won a Gold medal in the Interior Design Occupational event. The three Silver medalists were Keylee Phillips in Teacher and Train Jr., Quashanda Huff in Life Event Planning Occupational, and Christina Rountree in FCCLA Chapter Website Occupational. The students advanced to nationals after winning top honors in their respective competitions at the state FCCLA Conference in Athens, March 16-18. Bhumi Patel represented Georgia as a FCCLA Region 9 officer at the conference, and Hannah Kidd competed in Early Childhood Education, an event for which she won silver at state competition.

“As an adviser my greatest joy will always be the excitement and sense of self my students get from being members of FCCLA,” Gilliam said.

The SHS chapter also received Gold-level recognition for its efforts to recruit, retain, and recognize members as part of the national FCCLA “Go for the Red,” membership campaign, and Gilliam was recognized for achieving Master Advisor status.

“Each time I have the honor of taking students to NLC, I come away with a renewed sense of excitement for FCCLA,” said Gilliam. “I can find no better organization for allowing students the chance to grow on a personal level and in their leadership skills.” Gilliam, who is an alumna of the SHS FCCLA chapter and shares advisor duties with Cindy Hart, a culinary arts instructor at the school.

According to FCCLA Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) events are competitions in which members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. They provide members a way to develop and apply skills they are learning in their academic courses. The NLC was also a way for students to gain valuable experiences, network with FCCLA members from all over the country, and learn how to empower themselves through FCCLA.

The Statesboro High FCCLA Chapter is a co-curricular student organization for the school’s Culinary Arts and Family & Consumer Sciences Career Pathways within the school system’s Career Technical and Agriculture Education program. Nationwide FCCLA helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 160,000 members and over 4,500 chapters in 50 states.

Statesboro High School’s Drama Department will present its eighth annual dessert theatre, “Broadway in the ‘Boro,” on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 6:00 -8:30 p.m. The event leads with dessert in the school cafeteria, and the show begins at 7:00 p.m., in the fine arts auditorium. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the SHS Fine Arts Department.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5.00 for students and children 12 and under. They are available from the SHS Fine Arts Department and SHS Drama Teacher Eddie Frazier. Please enter the school’s main doors the night of the show.

Broadway in the ‘Boro raises more than $1,000 each year for LLS, a disease that has affected many in the community. “Monies for blood cancer research typically fall behind those contributed to the more high profile diseases such as breast cancer,” said Judi Downs, a local LLS volunteer. According to Downs, LLS is the world’s largest voluntary organization dedicated to blood cancer. LLS’ mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods is seeking middle and high school students to serve on his 2017-2018 Student Advisory Council. These students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom, along with other issues related to education, and will serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools.

Applicants must be enrolled in a Georgia public middle or high school for the 2017-18 school year. To apply:

Selected students will be contacted via email. All students can check gadoe.org, under News & Announcements, on September 12 at 10 a.m. to see whether they have been selected.

Middle school students will meet October 3, January 17, and April 10. High school students will meet October 4, January 18, April 11.

“The Student Advisory Council is an absolutely invaluable resource for the Georgia Department of Education team as we make decisions that impact students and classrooms,” Superintendent Woods said. “Nothing can replace the opportunity to hear directly from students about their experience in Georgia’s public schools and what we can improve. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with this year’s Student Advisory Council members.”

Bulloch County Schools will be open on Aug. 21. We will not be closing due to the total solar eclipse. We will extend the school day to accommodate eclipse activities and to ensure safety. Attached is the Solar Eclipse Parent Notice and Solar Eclipse Parent Form. These were emailed to parents on Friday and will be sent home with students this week.

Our district’s academic support directors have worked to gather a number of outside and inside viewing resources from NASA and others for our faculty to use for planning. They can be found at https://goo.gl/GzK542 if parents want to use these as well to support your own instructional activities and a safe experience.

If you would like to see a simulation of what Bulloch County will experience during the entire solar event, visit this link and enter your town in the text box https://eclipsemega.movie/simulator. Also, if you would like to help NASA collect science during #Eclipse2017, follow NASA on Facebook and Twitter for their NASA Citizen Science videos.

Bulloch County Schools will be open on Aug. 21. We will be extending the school day by a few minutes to accommodate eclipse activities and to ensure safety, so we have a delayed dismissal schedule on that day for all schools. We will be communicating more specific information and times with parents, so we ask them to expect information to come home and to be featured on our emails, websites, social media and media outlets.

This is the first total solar eclipse visible in Georgia in 38 years, so we consider this to be a dynamic STEM learning opportunity for our educators and students that can be experienced safely as has been done in past years. The school system acknowledges that some families may want to experience this event as a family. We will excuse student early dismissals and absences with a parent note.

Our district’s academic support directors have worked to gather a number of outside and inside viewing resources from NASA and others for our faculty to use for planning. They can be found at https://goo.gl/GzK542 if parents want to use these as well to support your own instructional activities and a safe experience.

Key topics for discussion include the following: (1) the Education-Special Local Option Sales Tax IV intergovernmental agreement between the BOE and the Board of Elections; (2) the Fiscal Year 2018 Maintenance & Operations Millage Rate; (3) the acceptance of year four of two 21st Century Community Grants at Langston Chapel Elementary School for grades K-5; and (4) a capital outlay project application for Fiscal Year 2019.

Bulloch County Schools, the County's local education agency (LEA), is inviting parents and community members to participate in a Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP) Revision meeting on Wednesday, August 16, 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the board room of the William James Educational Complex at 150 Williams Road in Statesboro.

The CLIP integrates requirements for planning across all Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) programs and Georgia's Professional Learning Program, and it eliminates the need for LEAs to submit separate plans for individual programs. The CLIP has three major components: (1) ESSA and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Plan Descriptors, (2) System Profile, and (3) LEA Implementation Plan. The CLIP must be approved in order to receive funding from state and federal programs.

Bulloch County Schools' Gifted Services is conducting a fall review of children who have transferred into the school system and existing students who were previously nominated for gifted services but missed the spring review. The schools will accept nominations through Aug. 25, from teachers, parents of transfer students, students, or peers for any students who meets the specifications for this window. Nominations for all other students will be accepted during the main testing window in January 2018. Any nominations received after the test window closes will be held until the Spring 2018 review.

Nominations should be submitted to the QUEST facilitator at the child’s elementary or middle school by Aug. 25. For convenience, an online nomination form is available for each elementary and middle school at www.bullochschools.org/giftededucation.

Bulloch County Schools does not test a child for gifted service more than once in a calendar year. Students, who were tested in Spring 2017 are not eligible to participate in this fall review.

Once the nominations are closed, the eligibility team at each school will review the data submitted to determine if a student requires a formal evaluation for gifted services. A nomination does not guarantee formal evaluation.

Gifted Services are based on need, and the review team must establish that there is evidence of a need for services before evaluation can take place. At that time, the parents/guardians of the identified students will receive a Permission to Test Form to sign and return to their child's school. Testing will follow the receipt of this form. Testing will begin after teams have taken time for the data review and the receipt of permission to test.

If selected to participate in the formal evaluation process, a student will take standardized tests in Mental Ability, Achievement, and Creativity. Grades or a Rating Scale will be used to assess a student's motivation. Notification of evaluation results will be sent in by the end of the semester. More information about these test options is available at www.bullochschools.org/giftedservices.

Bulloch County Schools does not use private test data to determine eligibility. It may be used as a referral for further evaluation.

Bulloch County Schools' gifted services program is called QUEST. The curriculum provides opportunities that enhance the following students' skills in communication, problem Solving, creative and critical thinking, research and study, guided independent study, and self evaluation beyond what they already receive in these areas in the regular classroom setting.

The Statesboro Fire Department (SFD) responded to a fire alarm in the kitchen at the campuses of Langston Chapel Elementary and Middle Schools Wednesday morning just after 8:45 a.m. All students at both campuses were promptly and safely evacuated as a precaution until firefighters issued an all-clear report to return to normal school operations at 9:17 a.m. There were no injuries or damage to school equipment, and no children were in the cafeteria at the time of the incident.

Kitchen personnel were beginning preparations for lunch when a piece of commercial kitchen equipment’s pop-off valve made a loud noise and released a large amount of steam, which was mistaken for smoke. Kitchen staff pulled the fire alarm, which alerted SFD to the scene.

SFD, along with a Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department school resource officer assigned to the schools, quickly assessed the situation and helped ensure the facilities were safe for all students and personnel to return for normal school operations. Bulloch County Schools’ Chief Operations Officer Paul Webb, School Nutrition Director Meagan Blanchard, and Maintenance Director Glenn Rogers also responded to the scene.

As a precaution, all food that was already in preparation prior to the incident was discarded. For today only, students will be served a sack lunch option of sandwiches and fruit. Accommodations will continue to be made for any students with documented food allergies. The normal menu options will be served tomorrow.

The Langston Chapel Schools have separate cafeterias for student dining, but the schools are connected by a common kitchen. This necessitates both campuses being evacuated in the event of a fire alarm. Both principals reported that students and faculty followed evacuations promptly and perfectly.

All schools practice fire evacuation procedures throughout the year, and all schools are required to have at least one fire drill the first week of school. Bulloch County Schools encourages all parents to review the safety protocols for its schools and buses which are listed in the back pages of the Bulloch County Schools Student Handbook which students received at Open House or the first day of school. With this and all emergency situations, law enforcement and public safety personnel advise parents and the community to remain out of the area until any and all emergency situations are cleared.

It was great to have our hallways bustling with activity and our desks filled with children ready to learn on Tuesday as we kicked on another successful school year. The first day ran very smoothly. These are a few highlights about day one.

Transportation

A team of 113 drivers, 22 bus monitors, 21 maintenance personnel and 7 mechanics ensured that more than 5,300 students were transported safely to school this morning. They will transport approximately that same number home this afternoon. More than 50 percent of our students ride a bus to and from school.

We have more than 102 bus routes. Only one bus had mechanical issues, and the children were loaded onto a different bus to carry them to school. We also have some needed bus route changes for Brooklet Elementary, so we are working to smooth those out for these families.

Our bus drivers travel more than 6,200 miles each school day. We commend our driving force.

Bus drives will provide transportation for more than 1300 fieldtrips and athletic events this year.

Our bus drivers will log more than 1.3 million miles by the end of the school year.

Our drivers will conduct bus safety training for all students during these first few weeks of school. We train all students even if they are not regular bus riders because at some point they will ride a bus for a fieldtrip or athletic event.

We encourage parents to review the bus safety information and tips with their child. They can be found in the back of the Bulloch County Schools Student Handbook that each student received at either Open House or the first day of school.

Watch for school buses loading and unloading children. Georgia is one of the top states in the nation for school bus fatalities. Ninety percent (90%) of these occur while loading or unloading a school bus. Each year Bulloch County Schools’ bus drivers document an alarming number of vehicles that fail to obey traffic laws in regards to a stopped school bus. While these incidents happen throughout the County, they are especially high around the Chandler Road and Lanier Drive areas in Statesboro, where the school system has multiple bus stops for children who reside in the apartment complexes in that area. Please remember to watch for the extended stop signs and flashing lights on a school bus.

Traffic will be heavier than normal the first few weeks of school as many children who ride the bus may be car riders for the first few days. Please allow for extra travel time to ensure you arrive on time for school.

Bulloch County has received a good deal of rain the past few weeks, and this week’s forecast calls for more possible thunderstorms. All dirt roads in Bulloch County are passable at this time but that can change with an afternoon shower of 2-4 inches. The Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency and the county’s Transportation Department are monitoring dirt roads for possible issues. Bulloch County Schools will remain in consultation with Bulloch County EMA as they monitor weather and road conditions and how they may affect bus transportation.

We encourage parents to caution their student drivers to drive slowly and leave plenty of time and space for breaking. Parents may also want to evaluate if their student drivers have adequate experience with driving in wet conditions, and if not, parents may want to provide transportation for them.

Never drive through water over a road as it takes only several inches of water to disable some vehicles.

School Attendance

Student enrollment for the first day of school was 10,611 students. Attendance last year on the first day of school was 10,073.

We ended the 2017-18 school year with an enrollment of 10, 550. We expect our first day attendance to increase over the next two weeks and end the school year at near 10,800 students.

School Nutrition

Breakfast continues to be free for all children. We also offer grab-and-go options for our older students to encourage them to start the day off right with a nutritious breakfast.

Our school nutrition program worked through the summer to provide eight weeks of free meals for all children in Bulloch County. We served 2,716 breakfasts and 25,066 lunches. We know serving nutritious meals in the summer and during the school year helps keep the children’s bodies and minds in shape for learning. More than 32 percent of children ages 1-17 in Bulloch County live at or below the poverty line.

This year we will build on our partnership with local and area farmers to provide fresh grains, produce, fruit, meat and dairy products in our cafeterias. Last year we spent more than $59,000 with local farmers.

We will also continue to partner with our high school agricultural education programs’ hydroponics and horticulture projects which help provide fresh produce and herbs for their schools’ cafeterias and culinary arts programs.

The USDA did require our school system to make a slight increase in lunch costs. Elementary lunches are now $2 and middle and high school lunches are $2.25. Our reduced-price lunches remain at .40 cents.

We encourage parents to download the MySchoolBucks mobile application or use its website to manage their child’s school lunch account.

Instruction

Thank you to our more than 750 teachers who put in a full five days of pre-planning to ensure we were ready to welcome children.

We appreciate the work they are doing in their professional learning communities to monitor student progress and provide individualized instruction.

Georgia is one of the top states in the nation for school bus fatalities. Ninety percent (90%) of these occur while loading or unloading a school bus. Each year Bulloch County Schools’ bus drivers document an alarming number of vehicles that fail to obey traffic laws in regards to a stopped school bus. While these incidents happen throughout the County, they are especially high around the Chandler Road and Lanier Drive areas in Statesboro, where the school system has multiple bus stops for children who reside in the apartment complexes in that area. Please remember to watch for the extended stop signs and flashing lights on a school bus.

Bulloch County Schools has more than 5,200 children who ride school buses to and from school. In the mornings a single bus can carry up to 48 children and 23 – 27 in the afternoon. Let’s all do our part to keep them safe.

Heavy Traffic Around Schools

Traffic will be heavier than normal the first few weeks of school as many children who ride the bus may be car riders for the first few days. Please allow for extra travel time to ensure you arrive on time for school.

Dirt Road Conditions Due to Rain

Bulloch County has received a good deal of rain the past few weeks, and this week’s forecast calls for more possible thunderstorms. All dirt roads in Bulloch County are passable at this time but that can change with an afternoon shower of 2-4 inches. The Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency and the county’s Transportation Department are monitoring dirt roads for possible issues. Bulloch County Schools will remain in consultation with Bulloch County EMA as they monitor weather and road conditions and how they may affect bus transportation.

We encourage parents to caution their student drivers to drive slowly and leave plenty of time and space for breaking. Parents may also want to evaluate if their student drivers have adequate experience with driving in wet conditions, and if not, parents may want to provide transportation for them.

Never drive through water over a road as it takes only several inches of water to disable some vehicles.

School Bus Safety for Children

Georgia’s Pupil Transportation Department has recognized Bulloch County Schools’ School Bus Training Program for its excellence. For more than 30 years, the program ensures all Pre-K – 12th grade students receive training. It’s important for all students to learn how to be safe even if they are not regular bus riders, because at some point they may ride a school bus for a fieldtrip or athletics. Help us reinforce these school bus safety tips, which are also featured in the Student Handbook which each student received either at Open House or the first day of school.

1. Arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to come. Do not try to board a moving bus.

2. Have all items in your book bag before you leave home so you do not drop anything.

3. Never chase after a bus.

4. Never walk to another bus stop.

5. Never allow your parents to drive you to another bus stop.

6. If you drop something, leave it and move to a point out of the Danger Zone. Do not pick it up without getting instructions from the bus driver.

7. Always stay away from the front and rear bus tires.

8. Before crossing the road, make eye contact with the driver and get the “thumbs up” signal which indicates it is safe to cross.

9. When unloading at school:

• Walk (don’t run) straight towards the school.

• Stay away from the bus so your driver can see you.

• Keep walking until you get out of the Danger Zone (15 feet away from the bus).

10. When loading at school:

• Walk straight towards to bus door and be sure your driver can see you.

• Stay away from the front and rear bus tires and board the bus quickly.

• Never chase after a moving bus. Once the bus starts moving, you should stop moving.

The first day of school is August 1, and the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education is ready to help fund Fall 2017 Innovation Grants for teachers. The window for teachers, media specialists and counselors to submit applications is July 27 - Sept. 8, at 4:00 p.m. An application packet is available on the Foundation's website, and an application was emailed to faculty.

The Foundation will award up to 20 grants to faculty, 10 in the fall and 10 in the spring in values up to $1,000. These grants help fund learning opportunities for students.

Since its creation in 2006, the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education has funded nearly 200 innovative projects for teachers with grants totaling more than $190,000. The Foundation provides a way for individuals, businesses,industry and civic organizations to invest in local public education.

The Foundation also funds the district's REACH Georgia Scholarship Program and the Bulloch County Teacher of the Year program. The Statesboro Turkey Trot 5K and the school district's Pay for Jeans Fridays are the Foundation's major fundraising events. This year's Turkey Trot 5K is Saturday, November 18, in downtown Statesboro.

Engaging our families in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication is important to help ensure every child is successful in school. As you attend Open House and begin a new school year, we encourage you to speak with our teachers and administrators about how you can visit, volunteer and have a voice in your child's school.

Attached is Bulloch County Schools' District Parent & Family Engagement Policy for 2017-18. It was developed jointly and agreed upon with parents and family members of children participating in a Title I, Part A programs. It was adopted by the school system on June 9, 2017 and will be in effect for the 2017-2018 academic school year. The school district will distribute this policy in multiple ways to all parents on or before September 1, 2017.

We are ready to welcome you and your children back to school. Visit our online Back-to-School Toolkit on our website for all the information you need.

OPEN HOUSE
Please join us for Open House at each of our schools tomorrow, Thursday, July 27. Our elementary schools will be open from 4:00 -6:00 p.m., and our middle and high schools will be open 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. This is a great time to visit your new teachers, make sure your school has your correct contact information, pick up important information and learn about ways to keep engaged with activities at school.

NEW STUDENT & TRANSFER STUDENT REGISTRATION
Bulloch County Schools' new and transfer student registration for children in grades K-12 will continue through July 31. Our school offices are open from 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m for registration. We encourage you to register any new or transfer students before the first day of school.

If your child attended Bulloch County Schools last year, but you have either moved to a new residence that places you into a new school zone and school, or you were approved for a school choice (House Bill 251) school transfer, please contact your previous school to request a transfer of records to your new school and visit your new school to register.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Remember the first day of school is Tuesday, August 1. Traffic will be heavier than normal the first few weeks of school as many children who ride the bus may be car riders for the first few days. Please allow for extra travel time to ensure you arrive on time for school.

The Averitt Center for the Arts is hosting a Fall Class Registration event on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a..m. - 1 p.m. downtown. There will be fun activities including a bounce house. Meet the Averitt Center's art instructors and learn how fine arts can help your child thrive.

The Statesboro Bulloch County Parks & Recreation Department operates on-site after school programs at each of our elementary schools. They are accepting registrations now at the Honey Bowen Building at 1 Max Lockwood Road in Statesboro. They will be open until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, for a late-night registration. They offer a RECES program with pickup by 4:00 p.m. for $20 per week, and an OUR TIME program with pick up by 6:00 p.m. for $40 per week.

We look forward to a great year. Be sure to follow Bulloch County Schools' conversations online on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for a scheduled work session on Thursday, July 27, at 12 noon. Please note the time change due to Open House events at the school system's 15 campuses. There will not be a Board packet or live stream video of this meeting. The Board will only be meeting in executive session to discuss personnel recommendations as the district works toward finalizing new employees it is hiring for the 2017-2018 school year.

Meeting dates, times, and places are subject to change with advanced notice. The Board of Education may only change one Regular Session meeting once the annual schedule of meetings is published each January. Work Session Meetings are not required. They are always tentatively scheduled and may be rescheduled or cancelled.

Bulloch County Schools will welcome its youngest students and their families to campuses this week during the school system's annual Open House for all grades. The district's 12 pre-k sites will follow their host school's Open House time. Elementary school Open House is Thursday, July 27, from 4-6 p.m., and 5 - 7 p.m. for middle and high schools.

The Georgia Pre-K program also requires pre-kindergarten parents to attend a mandatory orientation session separate from Open House. The session introduces parents to the program, explains state requirements, and provides time for parents to ask questions. Pre-K students do not have to attend the orientation session.

This is a list of the mandatory Pre-Kindergarten Orientation Session dates and times:

The Georgia Department of Education released the Georgia Milestones Assessment System’s (GMAS) End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) test scores for Spring 2017, on July 20, for each school district and its schools. The assessments were administered to all third-twelfth grade students in April. Georgia law requires a comprehensive summative assessment program in grades three through 12.

Bulloch County Schools offers both semester-long and year-long courses at the high school level, so EOC tests are administered in both the winter and spring. While the state scores release for EOCs only includes the spring scores, Bulloch County Schools is releasing a combined winter and spring report to provide a full report on student performance for the year.

There were five tested EOG subjects and eight for EOC. This was the third year of Georgia’s new standardized testing system which aligns to more rigorous academic standards. The higher bar for student proficiency is aimed at better preparing students for college and career and providing a more realistic picture of academic progress.

GMAS assesses student learning along four levels of achievement: Beginning Learners, Developing Learners, Proficient Learners and Distinguished Learners. Proficient Learners and Distinguished Learners demonstrate proficiency or advanced mastery in the knowledge and skills necessary at a grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. Proficient and Distinguished Learners are considered prepared for the next grade level or course and are on track for college and career readiness.

The GMAS’s EOC and EOG tests include multiple choice, short answer and open-ended questions to better gauge students’ content mastery. Students in grades 3-4 and 6-7 were tested in Reading, English language arts and mathematics. Students in grades 5 and 8 were tested in these same subjects plus science and social studies. Science and social studies assessments are only required fifth and eighth grades as a result of Senate Bill 364, which became law in May 2016.

In grades 9-12, students who were enrolled in 9th Grade Literature & Composition, American Literature & Composition, Coordinate Algebra, Analytic Geometry, Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, Physical Science, U.S. History, or Economics took a Georgia Milestones End of Course assessment. Bulloch County Schools’ middle schools offered its advanced students the opportunity to take freshman-level high school courses like Physical Science and Coordinate Algebra. As a result, these students also took an EOC in order to obtain high school credit for those courses. Their scores are included in the release.

This was the first year that all EOC and EOG tests were administered online. The district has prepared for this transition over the last three years by increasing classroom technology instruction and application, and providing online testing practice at school and home. The district also upgraded its technology infrastructure to support online testing by increasing its bandwidth, providing dedicated cache servers to ensure students’ work would not be lost due to unforeseen technology interruptions, and providing on-site school technology liaisons and additional technology personnel during testing.

The state now monitors all online testing. During the district’s 2016-17 testing windows for all state assessments, the Georgia Department of Education’s analysis of Bulloch County did not find any students for which technology interruptions impacted the student’s scores. If the DOE analysis determines that technology interruptions impacted a student's test score, the school system receives a list of affected students.

Bulloch County Schools’ GMAS Performance Highlights

At the state and district level, scores remain lower as students and teachers continue to adjust to more rigorous academic standards and assessments.

Bulloch County Schools increased or matched its overall proficiency (proficient and distinguished learners) in 16 of the 30 tested subjects and grade levels. The highest increases were in Ninth Grade Literature where student proficiency increased 18.4 percentage points and American Literature where student proficiency increased 16.4 percentage points.

The district’s students outperformed, matched or closely mirrored their statewide peers in 16 of the 30 tested subjects. This was most evident in seventh and eighth grades where student performance exceeded the state in seven of the eight tested areas. They also met or exceeded their peers in school systems within the First District RESA in seven of eight assessments.

In these four key tested areas, Third-grade Reading, Fourth-grade Reading, Seventh-grade Reading, and Eighth-grade Reading, at least 70 percent or more of the students achieved at the proficient or distinguished learner level. Strong reading proficiency is an indicator of future post-secondary success.

The district’s emphasis on improving literacy skills and raising student’s Lexile reading levels is evident as the majority of schools showed gains in Reading on the EOG for grades 3-8. In grades 3, 5, and 8, Georgia Milestones results inform promotion/retention decisions in the areas of reading (grades 3, 5, and 8) and mathematics (grades 5 and 8). Eighth grade students posted the highest percentage of students reading on or above grade level (Proficient/Distinguished) at 77 percent. Third grade students demonstrated 72 percent proficiency in Reading and fifth grade demonstrated 69 percent.

Mathematics continues to be an area for improvement. For the gateway years of grades five and eight, students posted only 34 and 33 percent proficiency respectively in math. In the EOC, proficiency dropped 2.8 percentage points to 61.5 percent in Coordinate Algebra; however, proficiency rose in Analytic Geometry from 60.1 percent to 65.8 percent.

Six of the district’s nine elementary schools showed gains in six or more of the 11 tested areas for grades 3-5.

The area with the least gains was Third-Grade English Language Arts for EOG and Analytic Geometry for the EOC; however, the district and all high school scores in Analytic Geometry exceeded the state.

Tormenta FC is helping children in need succeed by hosting Back to School Supply Night during their home soccer game on Saturday, July 15, 8:00 p.m., at Erk Russell Park in Statesboro. The event supports the United Way of Southeast Georgia and Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County's annual school supply drive for the community's most at-risk children.

Tormenta FC encourages all fans to bring school supplies to the game, which is the team's last regular season game before they possibly head to post-season play. Visit the school system's website at www.bullochschools.org/backtoschool for suggested supply lists.

Donations from the game will be added to community collections from the supply drive's local drop-off points at BB&T, Citizens Bank, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Renasant Bank, Sea Island Bank,Queensborough National Bank, Bulloch First, Colony Bank, and CORE Credit Union. United Way and Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County will give all donations to Bulloch County Schools for distribution through each school's counselor. They have privately identified the children who most need these supplies to be successful.

Key topics for discussion include the following: A resolution for a fourth Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST); the Transitions Learning Center School Improvement Plan; the district's Three-Year Comprehensive State Technology Plan; and an intergovernmental agreement between the district, the Bulloch County Commission, and the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department

Brooklet Elementary and Nevils Elementary achieved Title I Reward School status for 2016-17. The Georgia Department of Education awards the designation to schools with the highest absolute performance over three years for the All Students group on statewide assessments.

Reward Schools are Title I schools that fall into one of two categories: Highest Performing or Highest Progress. This is the fifth year in a row that Brooklet Elementary has been named a Highest-Performing School. BES is in the top five percent of Title I schools in the state. Nevils Elementary is a High-Progress School. The school is among the 10 percent of the state’s Title I schools making the most progress in improving the performance of the All Students group over three years on the statewide assessments.

The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) awarded Julia P. Bryant Elementary a Bronze Award in the Greatest Gains category for exhibiting high growth in student achievement as part of GOSA’s Single Statewide Accountability System. The recognition means that JPBES’s academic growth over the last three years has been in the top seven percent of schools in the state. JPBES was one of only 127 Greatest Gains schools in the state, and one of only 27 schools to receive a Bronze Award.

A team of eighth-grade students from the QUEST gifted program at Portal Middle High School (PMHS) won the Georgia Stock Market Game for the region in May.

Members of the winning team, Alayna Smith, Mattie Smith, Maggie Nesmith, Ashleigh Baxley and Katelyn Hudson, were honored by members of the local financial community. Renasant Bank hosted a luncheon for the team. They met with Renasant’s Financial Advisor & Regional Sales Manager Pat Rice, Wells Fargo’s Financial Advisor Kristie Crooms, and Synovus Securities’ Ray McKinney to learn more about stocks.

The Stock Market Game is an educational program developed and administered by the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) Foundation. The game is also sponsored by more than 650 securities firms and major corporate sponsors, such as, Merrill Lynch, Wachovia Securities, Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill, and the New York Stock Exchange Foundation.

The Stock Market Game is a teaching tool used to build financial literacy. The game builds students’ skills and knowledge in saving, investing, and global markets. Educators have found that the game teaches critical thinking, decision-making, cooperation, communication, independent research, saving and investing. Research found through a survey conducted by Learning Point Associates in 2008 found that participation in the game improved student performance in mathematics and increased financial literacy.

In the game, each team began the stimulation with a virtual cash account of $100,000. The goal was to create the best-performing portfolio by only trading stocks and mutual funds listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange.

The Stock Market Game’s extensive rules cover how teams can manage stock transactions and portfolios, how to borrow additional funds, broker’s fees, and more. Winners are determined based on either a portfolio’s equity or the percentage return above or below S&P 500 Growth.

QUEST is the K-8 gifted program in Bulloch County. Eighth-grade QUEST students across the district complete a unit of study about economics and the U.S. Stock Exchange. PMHS’s QUEST instructor is Anna Spence.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session on Thursday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the school system's Central Office, located at 150 Williams Road in Statesboro. Watch the meeting live or later at www.bullochschools.org/boardlive.

Key topics for discussion include a report about the Seamless Summer Feeding Program from Megan Blanchard, the district's school nutrition director. The Education Special Local Option Sales Tax IV Resolution discussion will be tabled until a future meeting.

Three elementary school students are recipients of this year's Chloe Moon Dart Art Scholarship to fund fine arts instruction at the Averitt Center for the Arts. Named for a former Sallie Zetterower Elementary School student, the memorial scholarship is presented annually to a fourth-grade child who shares a passion for art like the award’s namesake. The scholarship, which is managed by Chloe’s family, has now grown from one recipient annually to three due to support from local sponsors.

This year’s recipients, who were identified by their school’s art teacher, are Sweeden Rose of Sallie Zetterower Elementary, April Richmond of Nevils Elementary, and Caroline Deal of Mattie Lively Elementary (pictured L-R above). The students were honored during end-of-year awards ceremonies at their schools. The scholarships will fund the winners' participation in one of the many week-long art camps or go toward fine arts instruction at the Averitt Center for the Arts.

“Every year the Ogeechee Lodge #213 has sponsored the scholarship,” said Consuela Brown, Chloe’s mother. “Last year we were able to expand it to two scholarships, and this year we are proud to expand it to three. We really appreciate the help from Ogeechee Lodge #213, Josh Tucker Attorney at Law, and Franklin Chevrolet. We are able to keep Chloe’s memory alive through these scholarships.”

The scholarship was started in 2014, by Carlee Fuller James, who was Chloe’s art teacher at Sallie Zetterower Elementary. Chloe was the youngest member of her Art Club at the school. James hand crafts an award to present to the recipients each year. Brown shared that the very first scholarship was presented to Chloe’s best friend, Emily Altman.

Chloe (pictured at left) was the daughter of Brown and Jerome James Dart. She was a fourth-grade student at Sallie Z, when she passed away after a tragic accident on November 3, 2013, when she was only 10 years old.

Bulloch County Schools' new and transfer student registration for children in grades K-12 is June 5 - June 14, and July 10 - July 31, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Visit your zoned school to register your child before the first day of school, which is Tuesday, August 1.

The school system’s website, www.bullochschools.org/backtoschool has the information you need for the new school year including registration forms and a reference check list of required documents. Having forms already completed and necessary documentation on hand will reduce wait times.

All elementary, middle and high school offices, except for Langston Chapel Middle School, will be open during these dates, and personnel will be available to assist you with registration. LCMS will only accept registrations during the July session dates.

If your child attended Bulloch County Schools last year but you have moved into a different school zone or were approved for a school choice (House Bill 251) transfer, please contact your previous school to request a transfer of records to your new school and visit your new school to register.

For new and transfer student registration, please allow at least one hour to complete paperwork and register for classes, especially for kindergarten, middle, and high school students. For these grade levels, you may want to consider contacting the school for an appointment.

Bulloch County Schools will operate a Seamless Summer Nutrition Program for all children ages 1 – 18. Breakfast and lunch will be served on weekdays from June 5 – June 30 and July 5 – July 21 (excludes July 3-4, due to the national holiday). The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. All meals are free and no enrollment is required.

This summer Bulloch County Schools' Food Services Department is expanding the program to include multiple mobile sites. They will provide breakfast at six school sites and lunch at 15 school and mobile sites. All meals must be eaten at the sites. All school-based and mobile sites are open to any child in Bulloch County. Participation at each site is not limited to a child’s school zone or public school attendance. Any child is welcome at any site. Bulloch County Schools is an equal opportunity provider.

Children need healthy food all year long to flourish and be successful. According to the University of Georgia's Initiative on Poverty and the Economy, Bulloch County has more than 31 percent of children ages 1-17 living at or below poverty level. That is seven percent higher than the state's 24 percent. The IPE also revealed that poverty levels in Georgia are higher than they have been in more than 40 years. Georgia is one of eight states where half of all of the nation's poorest children live, and the average age of a homeless child in Georgia is nine years of age.

With the additional mobile sites, the school system is seeking adult and teen volunteers from local faith-based, civic and student organizations to help make this summer a success. The mobile sites are a "meals-on-wheels" type solution, so volunteers will provide their own transportation to deliver and distribute meals at the predetermined sites.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Bulloch County School Nutrition office for more info at 912-212-8620 or mblanchard@bullochschools.org. A complete listing of sites and operation times is listed below.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet on Thursday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m., in the Central Office Boardroom, located at 150 Williams Road in Statesboro. Key topics for discussion include the following: HVAC replacement bids for Mill Creek Elementary and Portal Elementary; the City of Statesboro and Statesboro High School Youth Engagement Report; and discussion about the superintendent's minority recruitment recommendation.

My name is Chuck Rockett, and I am a Georgia History teacher at William James Middle School, where I have served for 13 years. I’ve been teaching for 25 years, and I have taught every content subject while coaching six different sports. I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Georgia Southern University.

My original career goals did not include teaching. I made a conscious decision to become an educator after a job in outside sales. Both of my parents modeled a life of learning and encouraged me to follow my heart. My decision was to become an outstanding educator and one whom students would remember. I returned to GA Southern and obtained a master’s degree in middle grades education with an emphasis in science and math.

My mother teacher and both of my sisters were teachers. When I decided to go into education, my father told me that education is a serious career, and I would be entrusted with the futures of students, the community, state and nation. I set out each day with this thought in mind, and I rise to its challenge.

Working in a public middle school setting, I encounter many things that fall outside of traditional teaching responsibilities. Often I am transformed into an advisor, counselor, confidant and protector. As a teacher, I have learned that teaching is a lifestyle that extends well beyond the contracted hours.

I remember myself at various points in my journey, and I celebrate every milestone in the learning process because I know this is not the end of my students’ journey. It is my understanding of diversity that helps me develop lasting relationships with my students and inspire them to learn and achieve. I made a commitment to show students they are important. I help them learn they must be their best selves. Students who realize they are performing and learning at their personal best begin to learn for the sake of learning and understand I am a partner in their academic journey.

I have the wonderful opportunity to enrich students’ lives. I try to make every day special for them. Facilitating an engaging and interactive learning environment is critical to student success. If you enjoy your job, students enjoy coming to your class.

As a teacher I pride myself on being fair and democratic while fostering an environment where students feel capable of success. I gain the respect of my students and this diminishes hindrances to the learning process. My educational philosophy is demonstrated in this teaching style every day. I make it a priority to make personal connections and establish trust among my students. I use humor to engage them and always add a personal touch to my lessons.

As a history teacher I am sure to include culturally relevant lessons and include examples that relate to all students. When students feel included, they are inclined to perform better in school. By students knowing that I care has motivated them to be successful on the state test. For the past six years, over 90 percent of my students have passed the CRCT or Georgia Milestones Assessments, and each year I have a growth rate of over 75 percent.

I am a teacher because teaching gives me complete pride and fulfillment in a profession in which I believe I am truly making a difference. I am blessed to call my passion and love of teaching my work. What a privilege it is to be a witness to lives being transformed.

Schools in Portal hosted their very first graduation walk on May 19, at Portal Elementary for the Class of 2017. The close-knit, 55-member graduating class of Portal Middle High School has been together since their pre-kindergarten days at neighboring PES. Friday's walk was a chance for the senior class to reminisce, hug former elementary teachers, encourage their younger peers, and enjoy a special reception in their honor.

The graduates were greeted by PES faculty, staff and students, including Dr. Debbie Cartee, the school's music teacher, who like many faculty members taught them for seven years from prekindergarten through fifth grade. "These are my babies," Cartee said as the entire line of graduates each stopped to give her a hug.

After weaving their way down each grade level's hallway while "Pomp and Circumstance," played over the building's public address system, the seniors joined PES's students in the gym. There Dr. Laurie Mascolo, principal of Portal Elementary, spoke briefly about working hard to attain success. Mascolo also used the time to reward PES students for their hard work on the recent Georgia Milestones Assessments. She had challenged the children to do their best, and if they did, one student would get to cut her ponytail. "It doesn't take much work to grow my hair," Mascolo said. "But it does take work to grow you. We are proud of your success and the success of the Portal High graduates."

The graduates were then treated to a special reception. PES faculty had made a bulletin board in the cafeteria which featured the Class of 2017's prekindergarten through fifth-grade class pictures. This was a big hit along with a graduation cake and a gift cup filled with goodies and their high school graduation picture. "They (PES faculty) really went all out," said PMHS Principal Patrick Hill.

The new graduation walk tradition is a result of the collaboration between new principals Hill and Mascolo and their faculty. The two neighboring schools have worked together this year on a number of events for fine arts and Veterans Day. PES and PMHS together serve only 806 students in Pre-K - 12th grade, and PES is the combined middle-high campus' only feeder school. This adds to the closeness of its graduating classes. PMHS's graduation is Friday, May 26, at 7:00 p.m., at the PMHS Athletic Complex.

The Bulloch County Board of Education approved its Fiscal Year 2018 Budget at its scheduled regular session meeting on Thursday, May 11. The school system's FY '18 Year begins July 1. This completes a budget planning process that began in February. Attached is a summary of the budget for each of the district's five fund areas.

The 2nd Annual Reading Carnival is Saturday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., at Statesboro High School for children of all ages (Birth-12th Grade). The event is organized and sponsored by a variety of local groups, including Bulloch County Schools, all who value literacy, and who are collaborating to encourage families and children to read, especially this summer.

The free event will feature carnival-themed book stations, fun activities, games, inflatables, rides, music, food, book giveaways and more. The activities are designed to creatively get children, youth and young adults hooked on reading.

The Reading Fair will feature interactive reading stations staffed by school volunteers and local businesses. Each station is designed to engage children and pique their interest about a specific book, author, character, or book series. Guests are encouraged to visit at least four stations.

Highlights of Saturday's event are "Mama Peg Tells Gullah Stories," by Olyvia Davis, an author and educator who will recite and re-enact Gullah stories in Gullah Fashion; Abeni Cultural Arts from Savannah will perform African Dance and drumming; and Family Literacy will entertain readers with two puppet shows.

The Reading Stations will also include Real Men Read, where men in our community will read to children. The Reading Women's Secret Garden will provide a tea party and readings of classic stories, and the Statesboro Therapy Dogs will have their dogs there for students to Read to Rover.

Leading up to the Reading Fair, Bulloch County Schools is hosting a district-wide reading competition for all Pre-K -12th grade students. Participants who complete their Reading Passports could win gift cards, eReaders, a bicycle, a laptop or other great prizes.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session on Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's Central Office in Statesboro. Key topics on the agenda include the following: A presentation by Southeast Bulloch High School and the tentative Fiscal Year 2018 Budget will be presented for a vote. The following items will be placed on the table for review: a bid proposal to purchase new Chromebooks for student use; desktop and laptop computer renewals, and a $108,000 Agriculture Mechanics Grant for Portal Middle High School to redesign its agriculture education classrooms and warehouse. The Board will also report on the actions of its committees and have freeform discussion.

Via these links Bulloch County Board of Education meetings can be watched live or later and Board Packets and presentations accessed:
◾Access meetings live or later from any web-enabled computer or digital device at www.bullochschools.org/boardlive . Any PowerPoint presentations made during a meeting are displayed within the live and archived video.
◾Access meeting agendas and packets (pdfs) at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Stilson Elementary School's teacher of the year is Carrie Fritch. This is her story:

My name is Carrie Fritch. I am fifth-grade math teacher at Stilson Elementary School. I have been an educator for 11 years, 10 of those at Stilson. I obtained my bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University in Early Childhood Education, and my master’s degree from Grand Canyon University.

From my own elementary school experiences as a child, I learned that there are so many factors that affect a student’s performance in the classroom. When I was in second grade I began noticing the differences in myself and other students. Students stopped talking to me and one year no one from my school came to my birthday party. One day a student told me that the other kids did not like me because of the way I walked.

I was devastated. I became consumed with the fact that no one wanted to be my friend because of the way I walked. School became hard for me. I never wanted to go, and I remember not dong assignments. As a result, I was moved from the higher level classes.

My fifth-grade year we moved to Bulloch County. I had never changed schools before, and I did not know what to expect. This brought new fears, but I had a teacher who made a point of helping me connect with a few students in my class. She made me feel very comfortable. I made close friends, I was able to focus on my school work, and my grades quickly recovered from the damage of my previous school experience.

In fifth-grade I decided I wanted to impact students’ lives on a daily basis. Because of my experiences, I know that if children are hungry, tired, feel unloved or feel inferior, they will struggle in school. Today, I want my students to feel I love them, and that I am someone in whom they can confide.

Rita Pierson said, “Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” As educators we must never give up on any student who walks into our classrooms. Building relationships with them is essential. Students who know you care perform at a much higher level. I want every student in Georgia to know that their futures are bright, and they should strive to be the best they can be.

Portal Middle High School’s drama students won three first-place awards for their one-act play at the Armstrong One-Act Play Festival on April 8, at Armstrong State University. The judges selected their performance as the Best Overall award winner after seeing 10 Savannah-area schools perform, including top competitors Richmond Hill High School and the Savannah Arts Academy. The Portal troupe also received first place for Technical Direction, and Patrick Easley won first place in the Best Actor category.

The students performed, “This is a Test,” by Stephen Gregg. Directed by Deena Scarborough, PMHS’s visual arts teacher, all three judges applauded the actors for their unity, timing and ability to work as a team. The following students were part of the cast: Holden Bragg, Kelsey Bragg, Aaronn Brown, Leah Davis, Kensley Deal, Patrick Easley, Claudasia Mosely, Kimball Shaw and James Spangler.

The community is invited to Fine Arts Night on Tuesday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m., at PMHS, to enjoy a showcase of the drama, band, visual arts and choral talents of PMHS and Portal Elementary School students. PMHS's fine arts teachers are John Gleissner for band and Deena Scarborough for visual arts and drama. PES’s fine arts teachers are Dr. Debbie Cartee for music and Sam Motes for Art.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Statesboro High School's teacher of the year is Jessica Elmore. This is her story:

My name is Jessica Elmore. I am a co-teacher and resource teacher in the subjects of English literature, math, and social studies for grades 9 – 12 at Statesboro High School. I’ve been an educator for 13 years serving in Liberty, Bryan and Bulloch Counties. I have taught at Statesboro High for three years. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Southern University.

As a child, I would always “play school.” I would use my chalkboard and paper to teach all of my cousins. In high school my focus turned to sports and I had to work really hard to make the grade. Unfortunately, a teacher told me I would never amount to anything and there was no point for me to go to college. After that conversation, I made it my goal to become a teacher.

Since that day, I told myself to never say, never. I live by this, and I try to teach my students to live their dreams, never give up, and to always set out and accomplish what they believe in.

Once I entered college, I knew that I not only wanted to work with kids, I really wanted to encourage and motivate the students who could fall through the cracks. I wanted to work with the students who need a little extra help and motivation in order to explore different avenues and accomplish different things.

In my career I have heard the dreams of many different students from becoming a lawyer, to becoming a doctor, to becoming a professional athlete. I have never told any of my students that they could not reach for their dreams. I always encourage them to set small goals and work toward their dream one step at a time. I use my life experiences and my drive to show them that if you put your mind to something and work hard, you can accomplish anything.

My parents also had a huge impact on my decision to become an educator. They never pushed me in any one direction, but they always had faith in me and told me to follow my heart. There are no other teachers in my family, just hard workers: farmers, welders, carpenters, mechanics and secretaries. My family believed in me when others did not. I let my students know I have that same belief in them.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Southeast Bulloch High School's teacher of the year is Matt Olsen. This is his story:

My name is Matt Olsen. I am the Director of Bands at Southeast Bulloch High School, where I have served my entire teaching career. I have the pleasure of directing “The Swarm,” SEBHS’s acclaimed 90-plus member marching band as well as six different ensembles: Symphonic Winds, Percussion Ensemble, Beginning Music Ensemble, 5th Block Big Band, and the county-side Bulloch Blues. I received my Music Education degree from Troy State University.

Growing up I was not a model student. I was the stereotypical product of divorce and economic hardship. I grew up in Houma, Louisiana, a town of Cajuns and Roughneck oil workers. My dad was a diver for Santa Fe Oil Company, and my mom, who only had a high school diploma at the time, held minimum-wage jobs. They divorced before I even began school. Dad moved to New Orleans, my mom became a single mother, and I became a latch-key kid.

Later, my mom remarried, and she and my stepfather both made the decision to obtain college degrees. After they completed their degrees, we moved to Orlando, I was entering eighth-grade at the time, and I had just come out of the Terrebonne Parish Teacher strikes, where the schools were closed intermittently for a year and a half for most of my seventh grade year. This coupled with my less than stellar study habits and me being the new kid with the funny Louisiana accent, led to my inevitable failure of eighth grade.

Ironically, this failure was a good thing. It was the first time that a consequence followed my actions. It made me work harder and change my attitude. When I entered high school, the best thing that ever happened to me was band. In band I learned the value of hard work, collaborative skills and the idea of excellence. My grades, attitude and behavior improved, and I graduated high school.

After graduation I spent three years as a professional musician, where I met my wife, Carie. When I was 20, our first child was born, and I got a regular job and began classes at Enterprise State Junior College in Alabama. There I met Dr. Lunsford, my English Composition professor. He was the first teacher that ever took time to sit down with me and show me how I could write better. He encouraged me to consider the quality of my work and not just the completion of it. The positive effect he had on me, led me to change my major from Music Performance to Music Education in hopes that I might have the same effect on others.

Kids spend an average of 1,250 hours a year receiving classroom instruction. It is our responsibility to guide these young minds. These students will be our future co-workers, neighbors, colleagues, protectors, caretakers, servicemen and more. We must take the time and effort to educate them in life as well as our specific subject.

The school year is coming to an end, but planning is well underway for the 2017-2018 school year. Mark your calendars to attend our Open House events at each of our schools. They are Thursday, July 27, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. for all elementary schools and from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. for all middle and high schools. The first day of school is Tuesday, August 1. Our online Back to School Toolkit at www.bullochschools.org/backtoschool is a resource for information and forms needed for the new year.

Bulloch County Schools is conducting an online parent survey for its Title I schools now through May 12. All of the school system's campuses, except Statesboro High School and Southeast Bulloch High School are Title I schools. If you have a child at any of our 13 Title I schools, we encourage you to participate in this survey. If you prefer to complete a paper survey instead, one can be made available to you by contacting your school's family liaison.

Title I provides federal funding to help supplement educational opportunities for children who live in high poverty areas who are most at risk of failing to meet state achievement standards. Title I funds programs that help ensure all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach a minimum proficiency on state academic achievement standards and assessments.

Georgia Southern Athletic Marketing and GA Southern Baseball are congratulating our school system for "Rockin' the Georgia Milestones" and supporting the 2nd Annual Reading Carnival by hosting Bulloch County Schools night at their game against Little Rock Arkansas on Saturday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m, at J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro.

Admission
All Bulloch County Schools elementary and middle school students can get in the game for only $5, with no identification necessary. NCAA Rules prevent offering this discount to high school students.

First Pitch
The 2018 Bulloch County Schools Teacher of the Year Susan Reagan, or Mill Creek Elementary School, will be throwing out the first pitch at 6:30, so don't miss it. Ms. Reagan is a reading teacher, who has given the gift of literacy to many children.

New & Gently Used Book Donations
Georgia Southern is allowing us to collect new and gently used books at the game for the 2nd Annual Reading Carnival coming up on May 20, 10- 2, at Statesboro High School. Look for our bin under the concourse at the main entrance if you would like to donate books.

Bark in the Park
Saturday's game is also Bark in the Park Night, so bring your dog to the park for a fun and furry time.

Hope to see you there, and help us thank Georgia Southern University, their Athletic Marketing Department, and Georgia Southern Baseball.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Southeast Bulloch Middle School's teacher of the year is Vickki Carter. This is her story:

My name is Vickki Carter. I am an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Southeast Bulloch Middle School, where I have taught for three years. I have been an educator for 19 years, previously serving in Pierce County Schools and in Clay County, Florida. I received my bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Language Arts and Social Science from Brewton-Parker College. I received my master’s degree from Troy University and my specialist’s degree from Valdosta State University.

Anthony Robbins once stated, “Our beliefs about what we are and what we can be precisely determine what we will be.” This has certainly been true in my life and in my role as a teacher. You see, I have been a classroom teacher since the tender age of five!

My first classroom was my parents’ garage complete with a blackboard, a teacher’s desk, and two student desks my dad collected from the demolition of an old school building in South Carolina. Numbered among my first students were several stuffed animals from my bedroom. As a five-year-old, that is what I thought teaching was all about. After over 20 years as an educator, I realize that a teacher’s contributions happen both inside and outside the classroom. I am absolutely determined that my greatest contribution in the field of education is an emphasis on relationships among teachers and students as well as relationships among colleagues.

Children thrive in a classroom with a teacher who greets them by name each day, provides a safe, non-threatening environment, holds them accountable, and is genuinely concerned about them as valuable human beings. Positive, healthy relationships among faculty and staff members within a building make an impact on students as well. Our students closely observe and learn from our attitudes and actions. When relationships are healthy and supportive, students will typically work harder to achieve.

My success as an educator is a direct correlation to the success of each student I teach. I have determined several common denominators that make a successful, outstanding teacher: caring, empathy, fairness, and respect to each and every student, staff member, faculty member and parent. Also, a strong command of your content area and the best, most creative practices for presenting that knowledge is an absolute necessity.

Very few professions exist that give us an opportunity to literally change our world. In education, we possess the unique privilege and responsibility of developing the potential within the mind of each child who looks to us for encouragement, guidance, counseling, love, knowledge, and the ability to cut the strings and become an independent learner. There is much joy in helping a child achieve a goal that he never dreamed possible.

In accordance with state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2131), parents or guardians, who have a child enrolled in a public school, may request to transfer the child to another public school within the Bulloch County School System. as long as the school district has determined that there is available classroom space at the school after all assigned students have been enrolled. Bulloch County Schools annually accepts school choice/transfer requests during the month of May. The window for public school choice/transfers (HB 251) for the 2017-2018 school year is open Monday, May 1, at 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m, on Friday, May, 19. For complete information, a Transfer Request Form, and a list of schools with available classroom space, visit www.bullochschools.org/schoolchoice.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled work session on Thursday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's Central Office in Statesboro. The Board will consider adopting the tentative Fiscal Year 2018 Budget.

Via these links Bulloch County Board of Education meetings can be watched live or later and Board Packets and presentations accessed:
◾Access meetings live or later from any web-enabled computer or digital device at www.bullochschools.org/boardlive . Any PowerPoint presentations made during a meeting are displayed within the live and archived video.
◾Access meeting agendas and packets (pdfs) at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Sallie Zetterower Elementary School's teacher of the year is Susan Parrillo. This is her story:

My name is Susan Parrillo, and I am a fourth-grade English language arts and reading teacher at Sallie Zetterower Elementary School. I have been an educator for 20 years, 12 of those with Bulloch County Schools and Sallie Z. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the State University of New York College at Cortland, which is a well-known teachers college. Prior to my move to Georgia, I taught in Greenville, NC and Fairfax, VA.

I believe I was born to teach. It’s in my DNA. My maternal grandfather was a principal, and my older brother and several cousins are all retired educators. My biggest influences to become a teacher; however, came from my elementary school teachers at Salem Hyde Elementary in New York: Miss Carey, Mrs. Klim and Mrs. Hall. They created vivid and abundant memories for me and my classmates. Eventually, I knew I had to create these types of memories and experiences for all the students I would teach throughout my career.

Creating lasting memories for students may seem like a daunting and expensive task, yet I found the answer to be very simple: BOOKS! The best way is to read books to them. Then, read more books to them, and after that, read even more books to them. Early on in my career I came to realize how much students loved it when I read aloud to them.

I show students how reading books takes them on an adventure of a lifetime. Every book I read out loud to them provides those magical words penned inside to make connections and crystal clear visualizations in order to take our class on an exciting adventure together. My hope is that I instill a love for reading in each and every one of them.

Once I have my students hooked on books and the doors have swung open to all the adventures they can experience, I focus on their thinking. Reading is thinking. With these adventures and memories we’ve created through reading books, they are then surrounded by ideas. Ideas they can write about. I have developed many students who are readers into writers.

It is equally important that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and volunteers read to children. Children need to see someone other than their teachers read to them. Reading is a way to teach children that their education is important. An education is the ticket to wherever they want to go.

Bulloch County Schools' elementary campuses will host Kindergarten Registration on May 1-5, from 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must by five years old by Sept. 1, 2017.

Current Bulloch County Schools pre-kindergarten students do not need to register for kindergarten if they are remaining at their same elementary school for kindergarten. If they are attending a different school, please participate in Kindergarten Registration.

Five Statesboro High School students are headed to national competition in Nashville this summer after winning top honors in their respective competitions at the Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) State Conference March 16-18, at the Classic Center in Athens. Along with these top honors, nine additional members, the Chapter and their faculty advisor also received awards.

Quashanda Huff, Christina Rountree, Daisy Dyches, Keylee Phillips and Angela Smith will represent Georgia FCCLA in July as they compete in life event planning, teaching & training, interior design, and chapter website. At the state conference, Huff won the Gold Award for her Life Event Planning project. Rountree and Dyches won Silver for FCCLA Chapter Website. Phillips won Silver for her Teach & Train project, and Smith won Silver in Interior Design.

Other Chapter members receiving awards included the following: Alexis Johnson, Silver Award in Career Investigations; Hannah Kidd, Silver Award in Early Childhood Education; Victoria Collins and Mary Deloach, Silver Award in Advocacy; Krystin Brostek and Matthew Gilleland Bronze Award in Culinary Arts; Christina Rountree and Bhumi Patel, Statesman Awards; and Angela Smith, First Place in the Interior Design Proficiency Test.

Statesboro’s FCCLA Chapter was recognized for the largest chapter membership increase in Region Nine growing from 18 to 62 members, thanks to the leadership of the Chapter’s faculty advisors, Bethany Gilliam and Cindy Hart. The pair accompanied 14 members of the Chapter to the state conference. Gilliam was also recognized for her selection as a GA FCCLA Master Advisor. She is a family and consumer sciences teacher, and Hart teaches culinary arts.

The Statesboro High FCCLA Chapter, is a co-curricular student organization for the school’s Culinary Arts and Family & Consumer Sciences Career Pathways within the school system’s Career Technical and Agriculture Education program. Nationwide FCCLA helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 160,000 members and over 4,500 chapters in 50 states.

The national accolades keep coming for the Southeast Bulloch High School Choral Program. Brent Whitaker and his students topped all the participating AA through AAAA-sized choirs in Disney's National Performing Arts Competition in Orlando, March 23-25, by winning the event's overall Gold trophy and claiming the Best-In-Class award in their AA Mixed Choir division.

"We won it all, competing against schools more than twice our size," said Whitaker, chairman of the school's Fine Arts Department and choral director. "We went as a AA Mixed Choir, based on Disney's entry categories, and we rated an overall Superior Rating, which is the highest." Whitaker was pleased with his students noting that they sang three extremely difficult songs for the judges. Judges for these events include distinguished collegiate music educators from some of the country's leading vocal education programs such as Temple University, the University of Michigan, Auburn University, the University of Florida and Rollins College.

This particular Disney competitive music festival featured 27 choirs from around the United States. According to Disney, it hosts these events to help vocal groups achieve performance excellence. They also host similar events for concert bands, jazz ensembles, marching bands, orchestras, and vocal ensembles. Disney's Performing Arts events for students are endorsed by the National Association for Music Education and the GRAMMY Foundation. The events adhere to national performing arts standards as well.

The Choral Program at SEBHS features an Advanced Chorus, a Women's Chorus, and a Concert Chorus. The Choral Program's students are consistently selected as some of the state's premier vocalists for the Georgia Music Educators Association's All-State Chorus and All-State Reading Chorus. Many go on to be part of collegiate choral programs as well. Actively sought after for events and known for its standing-room only performances, one of the SEBHS Choral Program's most notable recent accomplishments was a Superior-Rated performance at Carnegie Hall as part of a Choirs of America Nationals competition.

A John Maxwell Team Global Youth Leadership Initiative will be held for all Bulloch County and area youth in grades 8 – 12, on Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 12 noon, in the Statesboro High School Auditorium. The free event is the kick off for National Youth Leadership Week April 24-28, and is open to any public, private, charter or homeschooled students. Guest speakers for the event include Statesboro Mayor, Jan Moore, Langston Chapel Middle School Teacher Tim Mincey, and Dr. Dominique Halaby, who is a professor at Georgia Southern University and member of the Statesboro Downtown Development Authority.

The theme is “Building Leaders for a Greater Tomorrow.” The goal of the event is to inspire and equip young people to lead themselves and others with character, mutual respect and integrity. Youth who attend will get to interact with their peers from other schools and participate in leadership activities, as well as hear from excellent speakers from the community. The event is sponsored in part by the Statesboro Kiwanis Club, Franklin Chevrolet and the Statesboro High School National Honor Society.

Governor Nathan Deal has announced that Sallie Zetterower Elementary School will receive $3,000 from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement’s Innovation Fund. The school’s STEM Lab Teacher Ansley Mays, wrote a grant, Sprouting STEMat Sallie Z and submitted it to the Innovation Fund’s Tiny Grant Program. In March, Governor Deal announced that SZES was one of 20 recipients of Tiny Grants that totaled more than $135,400. Mays will use the funds to create an outdoor STEM classroom to supplement her existing indoor STEM lab. Sallie Z was the only school south of Macon to receive a grant.

Mays has been a prolific grant writer this year as she sought to expand the specialty science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) resources for her students. “She has won over $6,800.00 in grants in the first year of her program,” said SZES Principal Julie Mizell. These funds are in addition to a $25,000 grant the district received from Monsanto to provide approximately $1,200 in math and science resources for the school system’s nine elementary STEM labs.

Her other grants have included a 3D printer from Georgia Southern University’s College of Education, a $500 Dr. Joe B. Crane Classroom Grant from the Georgia Agribusiness Council, and two innovation grants from the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education totaling nearly $2,000 3D printer supplies, interactive STEM centers, an iPAD, Osmo program, and STEM literature. Mays and her students have been exploring how science, technology, engineering and math relate to agriculture. As part of their study of plant science, the outdoor classroom will eventually feature aquaponics.

According to GOSA, the Innovation Fund invests in public education entities that aggressively develop and scale programs that enable Georgia educators to improve student performance and tackle our state’s most significant education challenges. In 2011, The Innovation Fund began as a $19.4 million competitive grant competition created under Georgia’s Race to the Top (RT3) Plan. To continue the Innovation Fund’s work beyond RT3, Governor Nathan Deal appropriated state funding for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and 2017. Since its inception, the Innovation Fund has invested more than $33 million of state and federal funding through 115 grants to 92 school districts, traditional public schools, charter schools, postsecondary institutions and nonprofit organizations to pilot innovative education programs, ranging in focus from teacher and leader induction and development to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) applied learning, blended learning and birth-to-age-eight language and literacy development.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Portal Middle High School's teacher of the year is Penny S. Aubrey. This is her story:

My name is Penny Aubrey. I am a special education teacher for grades 6-8 at Portal Middle High School, where I have taught for six years. I previously served in the same role at Mattie Lively Elementary for four years. I received my bachelor’s degree and my master’s degrees in school psychology and in special education from Georgia Southern University.

In 1993, I graduated from Georgia Southern with a degree in political science. I had dreams of becoming a lawyer, but I had a six-month-old son, Kyler, and I lived in Statesboro before the age of online classes, so law school was put on hold. It soon became evident that Kyler was not reaching developmental milestones. This was the beginning of my path toward special education.

I spent most of Kyler’s early years working with therapists and agencies such as Babies Can’t Wait. My experiences led me to return to school to be a school psychologist. I wanted to make the kind of difference I had witnessed others make for Kyler and our family.

I worked in the early intervention field, and I visited families of infants and toddlers with disabilities. I used what I learned with Kyler to help other families see potential in their own children. I quickly realized I loved working directly with children and their families. I loved hands-on interaction and seeing the progress. Although I had earned by degree in school psychology, it was at this same time that Kyler was learning to read, and I was inspired by his teacher to become a special education teacher.

In special education, the smallest accomplishments are actually the biggest. We have the opportunity to teach students several years in a row. This, along with being able to work with fewer students at a time, helps us really get to know our students and to see the progress they make. I believe one of my major accomplishments is for me to teach students to read who have not been able to learn in a general education classroom. The ability to open doors to the world for children by helping them learn to read is an amazing feeling.

My greatest accomplishment during the past school year was to teach my students perseverance and to be an example of how life can be tough. Everyone has obstacles, even teachers. I lost my son, Jordan, in August of 2015, and the following month I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had some very dark days and difficult times. It was the support, smiles and words of encouragement from my students that made me want to get out of bed each morning. It kept me going when I wanted to give up.

I am able to look back now and feel proud about my ability to persevere and stay focused on why I chose to become a teacher, the students. Educating students is more than teaching the curriculum. It is building character. The human spirit is hard to defeat. My students saw me vulnerable. They made me realize that my success as a teachers in not only measured by test scores but by all the lessons I teach them, including perseverance.

Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson announced three principal transfers Friday for Brooklet Elementary, Sallie Zetterower Elementary and William James Middle School. Beginning July 1, Marlin Baker will become principal at Sallie Z, Mike Yawn will move to BES and Julie Mizell will lead WJMS. Combined these educators have more than 65 years of teaching experience, and each one has served nearly 10 years as an administrator in the school system. Wilson and the Board of Education are finalizing principal assignments in preparation for the annual renewal of administrator contracts in May.

While principal new hires and promotions require Board approval, the superintendent approves transfers of existing principals. “Each of our schools is unique and has individual improvement needs based on the children it serves,” said Wilson. “I want to best match the strengths of our leaders to the needs of our students.”

Baker, Mizell and Yawn each have 22 years of experience as educators. Baker has been with the school district for 11 years, nine of those as principal of BES. Mizell has served Bulloch County for 21 years. Her administrative roles have included serving as an assistant principal at Statesboro High, and for the last four years, she has been the principal at SZES. Yawn also has 21 years of service with Bulloch County Schools. He has led the WJMS team for the past nine years.

Other recent principal announcements include the following: the promotion of Stilson Elementary’s assistant principal, Stephen Hoyle, to lead Southeast Bulloch High; and the approval of interim principals Dr. Laurie Mascolo and Jennifer Wade as principals of Portal Elementary and Mill Creek Elementary respectively.

Southeast Bulloch High School will have a new principal beginning July 1. The Board of Education approved Stephen Hoyle on Thursday during its regular session meeting after a personnel recommendation by Superintendent Charles Wilson.

Hoyle, the assistant principal at Stilson Elementary School, is a 25-year veteran educator. He has served in Bulloch County’s school system his entire career, 16 years as a classroom teacher at both the elementary and high school levels and nine years as an assistant principal at Portal Middle High School, Nevils Elementary and Stilson Elementary, where he has been for the past five years.

The high school environment is not new to Hoyle. He spent 10 years at this grade level as a credit recovery instructor and in-school suspension coordinator at SEBHS, and then as a physical education teacher and later an assistant principal and athletic director at Portal Middle High School.

“I am really excited about taking the next step in my professional career and joining such a tremendous faculty and staff at Southeast Bulloch High School,” Hoyle said. “I look forward to building positive relationships with the students, parents, faculty, staff and community and to continuing the traditions of excellence already established by the Southeast Bulloch family.” Hoyle is already a familiar face to many in the community having served in two of SEBHS’s feeder schools, Stilson and Nevils.

Hoyle obtained his bachelor’s degree in education from Georgia Southern University. He holds a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College and a specialist’s degree in education leadership from Valdosta State University. He was one of more than 20 applicants for the position, which was posted in February. The majority of the applicants came from outside the school system.

Hoyle succeeds Donna Clifton, who will retire in June after 30 years in education. She served Bulloch County Schools for 23 years, beginning as a fifth-grade teacher at Stilson Elementary and spending her last 10 years as a principal of first SEB Middle School (6 years) then SEBHS (4 years).

The district has an established a rigorous screening and selection process for principals which helps ensure the district has leaders in place, who will carry out the school system’s vision and mission. The rigorous process includes candidate screenings for leadership criteria and multiple interviews. While the superintendent makes the final recommendations, the process for new hires does allow for school council input.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's Central Office in Statesboro. Key topics for the meeting include the following: an awards presentation to the district by the Georgia Department of Audits; the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget, and updates from the BOE's Minority Recruitment Committee and Education Special Local Option Sales Tax(ESPLOST) Committee. The Board will also consider a recommendation from the Superintendent for a new principal at Southeast Bulloch High School.

Via these links Bulloch County Board of Education meetings can be watched live or later and packets and presentations accessed:
◾Access meetings live or later from any web-enabled computer or digital device at www.bullochschools.org/boardlive . Any PowerPoint presentations made during a meeting are displayed within the live and archived video.
◾Access meeting agendas and packets (pdfs) at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets.

My name is Debbie Cartee, and I am the music teacher at Portal Elementary School, where I have taught for 16 years. I have been an educator for 29 years, serving previously in Evans County for eight years and Screven County for five years. I received my bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Georgia Southern University. I also earned my master’s in Reading and my doctorate in Curriculum Studies from GA Southern.

Three dynamics in my life greatly motivated me to become a teacher: my zeal for reading, my passion for music, and the joy I have in sharing both. I remember feeling the entire world had dropped in my lap when I learned to read my first vocabulary words. I have always been fascinated with making music. I sang and was involved in choirs all my childhood and well into adulthood. Fortunately for me, I was able to receive quality music education throughout my school years. I had several dedicated teachers who helped form my ideas about what I wanted to become, and I will be forever grateful to them.

I was the first in my extended family to attend college when I entered Tift College on a music scholarship. My plans were to prepare for a career in opera or American musical theatre, but before my sophomore year began, my family moved to Statesboro and this led to my transfer to Georgia Southern University.

It was during my first year there I discovered I loved teaching others as I worked with children’s choirs and daycare classes. I also began to appreciate that I had an ability to connect with children. These insights led me to realize that teaching and sharing my music is the profession that would genuinely feed my soul.

It is my greatest hope that each of my kids sense I trust and appreciate them as valuable human beings. I believe long after their school days are over, my students will remember they had an adult, one outside their family, who believed in them, and who will be a friend and mentor to them for as long as is possible. I can think of nothing of greater importance than this contribution I have made to our future.

I am committed to strengthening my school and the Portal community through school-community activities that encourage a partnership and cooperativeness among all in the district. Two annual musical events I lead are in conjunction with activities sponsored by the Portal Heritage Society: a musical program at the Catface Turpentine Festival and a winter musical program at the Portal Community Nativity. My students and I also produce an annual Veterans Day program for the school and community.

To be successful educators, we must appreciate that teaching is a vocation, a calling, and a labor of love. In my classroom I teach the whole child in an atmosphere that is safe, non-judgmental, challenging, nurturing and fun. I do my best to provide the scaffolding they need to build connections between what they already know and the new understandings we seek to create. I believe we are each born with our own music inside us; therefore, it is vital for children to be active participants to learn by hearing, reading, discussing and most importantly by making music.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Mattie Lively Elementary School's teacher of the year is Kristin N. Blythe. This is her story.

My name is Kristin NeSmith Blythe. I am a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Mattie Lively Elementary School, where I have taught for 11 years. I’ve been an educator for 16 years, previously serving in Screven County. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University.

From a very young age, it was my dream to become a teacher. On any given day, you could find me sitting in an old child-sized wooden rocking chair in the playroom of my house with dolls lined along the wall. In the front of the room there was a green chalkboard and a dusty eraser. I would spend hours upon hours teaching my dolls the things I was learning in my real life classroom.

Yet, as I enrolled at Georgia Southern University, I hesitated to declare education as my major due to other interests and fields I wanted to explore. Growing up the daughter of a law enforcement officer was exciting! I wanted to follow in my daddy’s footsteps. However, after completing several classes in the criminal justice field, I realized my early desire to become a teacher was much stronger than my desire to “chase the bad guy."

Sixteen years later, my passion for teaching children has not once wavered, but only grown deeper with each passing year. I have had the opportunity to work with children in first and fifth grades, but the majority of my career has been spent with those in fourth grade. Each day is a challenge in itself as motivating and engaging lessons are planned, the needs of many diverse learners are met and relationships are established and fostered. Choosing to pursue the education field has surely been a challenging and rewarding profession.

Building relationships is an essential component of my personal teaching style. I strive to make students feel welcome in our classroom and to understand the importance of the role they play in our classroom community. Students understand that not only am I concerned with their academic success, but also their overall wellbeing. I encourage students to build relationships with one another as we take the time to encourage each other and celebrate the successes of our peers.

I consider my job as an educator to be a privilege. I know without a doubt that I am following the path in which God has laid for me. I have been blessed with 16 years of educating the children of tomorrow, and would never give a second thought to trading it for “the chase” again!

Georgia Southern University has selected two Southeast Bulloch Middle School educators to participate in a prestigious summer research experience for teachers sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). They are two of only 10 teachers selected by faculty from GA Southern's Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology(CEIT) to be part of the university's three-year NSF grant project, "ENgaging Educators in Renewable enerGY."

This experience will involve conducting wind turbine technologies and solar tracking research under the direction of Dr. Soloiu and with faculty members Dr. Mosfequr Rahman and Dr. Rocio Alba-Flores. According to the GA Southern faculty involved in the project, they believe having secondary teachers research with them in the labs will allow the teachers to better prepare the next generation of engineering students and be more aware of the real-world applications of engineering and technology.

The NSF grant is part of the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program. The goals of the RET program are to “help build long-term collaborative partnerships between K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers, community college faculty, and the NSF university research community by involving the teachers and community college faculty in advanced engineering and computer science research and helping them translate their research experiences and new knowledge into classroom activities”. GA Southern and its CEIT is dedicated to increasing the level of STEM education throughout Georgia with projects like ENERGY.

Bulloch County Schools is changing the locations and times of its 2017 graduation ceremonies for each of its three high schools. The Class of 2017 will be the first graduates in more than 10 years to receive their diplomas at their home stadiums in Brooklet, Portal and Statesboro. Superintendent Charles Wilson made the announcement Wednesday after hearing from high school principals. “This is a change many students and parents have requested for several years,” Wilson said. The return to district facilities will necessitate new ceremony times as well. The school system is communicating with parents and students this week, eight weeks prior to the events.

These are the new dates, times and locations for the graduation ceremonies:

Portal Middle High School Graduation: Friday, May 26, 7:00 p.m., at the PMHS Athletic Complex, located at 27245 Highway 80 West, in Portal.

Southeast Bulloch High School Graduation: Saturday, May 27, 8:30 a.m., at Fred Shaver Field, located at 9184, Brooklet/Denmark Hwy, in Brooklet. Guests are asked to use SEBHS’s and Southeast Bulloch Middle School’s parking lots as well as the lots behind the schools along Black Creek Church Road.

Statesboro High School Graduation: Saturday, May 27, 10:30 a.m., at Womack Field, located at 10 Lester Road, in Statesboro. Guests are asked to use the school’s parking lots, the lots behind the building and the vacant field at the rear of campus. Please do not use the private parking lots of the retail businesses along Lester Road. These are reserved for their customers.

Return to Tradition & Community Feedback
Historically, the district held graduation at the individual schools. The school system began holding a series of same-day, staggered ceremonies at Hanner Field House on Georgia Southern University’s campus 10 years ago. Parents, students and faculty have all shared with Wilson and the Board of Education their desire to return the ceremonies to their individual alma maters.

“Our high school campuses are second homes to students, especially our seniors, and the stadiums are filled with years of school spirit and traditions,” Wilson said. “It’s only fitting that our high schools host these milestone events where graduates’ memories are in abundance.”

Graduation Attendance Exceeds Hanner Field House’s Capacity
Attendance at SEBHS’s and SHS’s events now exceeds Hanner Field House’s indoor seating capacity. The change in venues will allow these schools to better accommodate guests. While these schools’ stadium seating capacities exceed that of Hanner Field House, SEBHS and SHS will still use admission tickets for entry. PMHS does not use admission tickets. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be moved to the schools’ gymnasiums and seating limited to four guests per graduate, except at PMHS where the gym can seat all guests.

Graduation Times
Because the ceremonies will now be in outside venues, weather conditions were a major factor in setting new dates and times for graduation. In May our area is subject to heat and late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms, so ceremonies in the morning were considered.

PMHS can easily accommodate its guests and graduates in either the school’s stadium or gymnasium due to their smaller size, so weather was not a major deciding factor. For this reason, PMHS decided to host its event on Friday evening.

SHS and SEBHS decided to host their events early on Saturday morning to avoid hotter afternoon temperatures and possible late afternoon and early evening thunderstorms. These schools are unable to accommodate all graduates and guests in their gymnasiums or auditoriums. Also, it was decided to stagger these schools graduation times in order to have enough time between the ceremonies for extended family, media, administrators and the Board of Education to travel to both events.

Graduation Invitation Insert
Graduation invitations have already been printed and issued, so the school system and Herff Jones are providing packets of printed cards with the new graduation dates, times and locations. Graduates can insert them inside their invitations prior to mailing invitations. If a graduate has already mailed their invitations, the card can be mailed as a separate postcard. These will be distributed by April 11 to all graduates even if they did not order invitations from Herff Jones.

Herff Jones is also providing one free corrected invitation to each graduate to have as a keepsake. “We regret any inconvenience this change has made for our students and parents,” Wilson said.

Partnership with Georgia Southern University
“GA Southern and its employees have partnered with us for many years and gone above and beyond to provide our graduates, guests and faculty a positive experience, not to mention sacrificing their Memorial Day weekend each year,” said Wilson. The district had discussed making the venue changes next year, but a recent opportunity for GA Southern to host a nationwide athletic event advanced the timeline. Because the semi-final games of this tournament will be held all day on Saturday, May 27, we could not guarantee ease of travel to Hanner Field House or parking for those who attend our graduation ceremonies.

“Our mutual decision to move our events allows us to support the University’s opportunity to host the 2017 Sunbelt Conference Baseball Championships the week of May 22-28.” Wilson noted that while GA Southern is fully capable of hosting these multiple events simultaneously, our change allows GA Southern to focus on this nationwide athletic experience and the economic impact it has for all of Bulloch County.

Culinary Arts students at Southeast Bulloch High School hope to cook up a national championship after winning the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia’s ProStart Culinary Competition at the Art Institute of Atlanta (AIA), on March 3. The five-member team will now travel to Charleston for the National ProStart Invitational to be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center, April 28 – May 1. In addition to their state championship trophy, these top high school cooks received a total of $60,000 ($12,000 each) in scholarships to further their culinary arts careers at AIA.

At the national event, Brandi Johnson, Will Howard, Josh Howard, Andrew Phillips and Katelyn Mason, along with SEBHS Culinary Arts Teacher Cynthia Lovett, will join nearly 400 other high school students from around the world to test their culinary arts and management skills. The National ProStart Invitational is considered to be one of the country’s premiere competitions for high school students who are studying culinary arts and restaurant management. The students’ skills will be judged by leaders in the industry. While there the students will also have an opportunity to network with top chefs, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) Trustees, state restaurant association executives, and representatives from some of the top culinary arts and hospitality management programs in the world.

According to the National ProStart Invitational’s competition guidelines, students in the management competition will develop a concept for a new restaurant and present it to judges. They are evaluated on their concept, marketing strategies, menu, recipes and food costs, operations and critical thinking skills. In the culinary competition, students will develop a unique menu for a three-course meal, complete with recipes and food costs, and prepare that meal in 60 minutes using two butane burners. They will have no electricity or running water. They will be evaluated on their menu, degree of difficulty, food safety and sanitation, knife skills, cooking procedures, food costing, teamwork, taste and presentation of their meal.

The Culinary Arts career pathway is one of 17 different pathways offered within Bulloch County Schools’ Career Technical and Agricultural Education program. Culinary Arts is one career pathway option in the state’s Hospitality & Tourism career cluster.

Six William James Middle School students and their projects are headed to the Georgia State Science & Engineering Fair in Athens, March 30-31, after qualifying in the region competition in February. The school had a record 53 students and 34 projects compete at the 2017 Regional Science & Engineering Fair in Savannah on Feb. 8-9. Their projects won 17 regional awards in addition to the state qualifiers.

“We had a strong showing at this year's Regional Science Fair,” said WJMS STEM Teacher Amy Smith, who coordinates a school-level qualifying event and the students’ participation at the regional and state levels. “We won more awards than last year and we are sending more students to state.”

Bulloch County Schools' Transportation Department is hiring additional school bus drivers, and applicants receive free training. "We're offering free CDL and School Bus training classes for applicants who would like to apply for our available bus driver positions, so no prior experience is necessary," said Janet Tanner, director of transportation. Starting salary for new drivers is $975 per month plus benefits.

The upcoming classes are as follows: (1) The CDL Class is April 18-20, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon; and (2) the Bus Driver Training Class is May 1-5, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. All classes will be held at the Bulloch County Schools Bus Garage located at 219 Simons Rd, in Statesboro. To reserve a training spot, applicants should first complete an online bus driver job application available via this link https://goo.gl/a0AJKc. For more information, contact the Bulloch County Schools Transportation Department at 912-212-8640.

At Bulloch County Schools, first and second-year drivers go through mandatory training on student management, student privacy, first aid, railroad crossings, bus loading/unloading, fire extinguisher use, backdoor locking/unlocking, bus mechanics, preparing a bus for inspection, driving range, and preparing a bus for end-of-year return. All drivers are also required to test their driving skills on a standard bus range to keep skills sharp and help handle real-world, driving situations.

The Bulloch County Schools Transportation Department provides nearly 5,000 children. The mission of the department is to safely deliver children to school each morning in a frame of mind ready to learn and then return them home safely each afternoon. The school system has a fleet of 151 air conditioned buses. Combined, drivers travel nearly 6,000 miles daily across more than 175 different routes with more than 5,500 individual bus stops. Drivers also travel an additional combined 52,000 miles annually for 1300 field trips, bringing the total annual traveled miles by our driving force to 1.5 million miles.

Bulloch County Schools' drivers also have a winning legacy when it comes to testing their skills against the state’s best bus drivers. Since 2002, they’ve finished as champion or runner-up five times in the
Georgia Association of Pupil Transportation School Bus Road-e-o.

Bulloch County Schools’ third- through eighth-grade students will take the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Tests (EOG) April 12 – April 27. The EOGs are state-mandated tests. They measure how well students have learned the information and skills outlined in the state’s adopted academic standards for English language arts, math, science and social studies. Parents can access additional information about the tests and a message from Superintendent Charles Wilson at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/gamilestones

EOG Performance Levels

Georgia has developed a specific set of academic performance standards or expectations at each grade level for all students in Georgia public schools. EOGs are like an academic checkup designed to measure how well students are acquiring the knowledge, concepts and skills set forth at each grade level. They give students an opportunity to show what they know. Student achievement in each content area is classified into four performance levels: Beginning Learner, Developing Learner, Proficient Learner or Distinguished Learner. These results provide teachers with valuable information regarding each child’s academic achievement and progress, so that they can best design educational programs to meet needs.

EOG Performance & Promotion

A child’s performance on the EOGs also assists in determining promotion to the next grade level for all students. The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and the State Board of Education have established specific performance guidelines for third, fifth and eighth grades as follows:

Third-grade students must score At Grade Level in the area of reading.

Fifth-grade students must score At Grade Level in the area of reading and at the Developing Learner level in mathematics.

Eighth-Grade students must score At Grade Level in the area of reading and at the Developing Learner level in mathematics.

Availability of EOG Results

Student test results will be provided to parents and schools as soon as they are made available from the state. The school system expects preliminary reports to be available by early to mid-May. The official paper copies for parents and students records are expected in early summer.

Remediation and Retesting

Children in third, fifth and eighth grades who do not meet the required performance guidelines will be provided remediation and an opportunity to retest. Students will not be compared to each other, but will be measured on how well they are meeting academic standards.

EOGs Administered Online

The GaDOE has completely transitioned to online testing for the EOGs. Online testing is now considered the primary mode of testing. Bulloch County Schools will administer all tests online except for students with a documented need for accommodations. All students in third through eighth grades will take the English Language Arts and Mathematics tests. Only grades five and eight will take the Science and Social Studies tests. The tests will be administered in the following order: English language arts, math, science and social studies.

To see what online testing is like, you and your child can visit the Experience Online Testing Georgia website at http://gaexperienceonline.com .The items on the demonstration tests are general and represent multiple grade levels. They do not assess student achievement. Additional resources to help your student prepare for the EOGs are available on the GaDOE website at http://testing.gadoe.org

EOG Question Formats

The EOGs will include the following types of questions in these subject areas:

Technology enhanced-evidence-based/multiple part items – English language arts, math, science and social studies

How Parents Can Help

We have learned over the years that your encouragement, as well as adequate rest and good nutrition, are valuable to children’s learning throughout the year, not only when they take tests. These are ways to ensure your child is ready to do their best each day:

Ensure children have a good night’s rest.

Ensure children have a nourishing breakfast.

Ensure children arrive to school on time.

Encourage your child to use good study and test-taking skills which include following directions carefully, avoiding careless errors and reviewing work.

My name is Talmeshia Parker, and I am an eighth grade English language arts teacher at Langston Chapel Middle School where I’ve served for four years. Previously I taught English for two years at Daun Elementary School and Muryong High School in Ulsan, South Korea. I earned my bachelor’s degree in English from Valdosta State University, and my master’s degree in Teaching Secondary English from Georgia Southern University.

As a first generation college graduate, I experienced much anxiety about my next steps upon completing my degree. I applied for jobs that would exercise my degree in English: newspaper columnist, technical writer, and grant writer with little certainty of what was to come. I also applied to teach overseas in a South Korean public school. I had never before taught nor left south Georgia, but miraculously I got the job! In the midst of culture shock, language barriers, massive populations and a demanding educational structure, I recognized my gift. I make kids feel special. My experience in South Korea taught me that I love to teach.

My greatest contribution to education is my fervent commitment to challenging my students while making them also feel loved and celebrated. I believe each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring and stimulating atmosphere in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students meet their fullest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, is inviting of shared ideas, and is conductive to learning.

My students know that I have high expectations of excellence and perseverance of them. They understand that I welcome dialogue, and it is my duty to serve them in any way feasible to obtain success. I am committed to celebrating all backgrounds and cultures in my classroom. I make a point to learn about the students in my classroom by watching their interactions with others, attending their extracurricular activities, and being transparent about my ideas. I look for ways to extend their thinking and challenge their beliefs, so they learn to welcome diversity.

I am a classroom teacher. I walk in that calling each day. A student once asked my, “Ms. Parker, why are you a teacher?” I replied softly, “You.” The good news about education is our students, and it is our duty to highlight and celebrate them. Our classrooms are a place where magic happens. Teachers motivate, counsel, support, and challenge.

Portal Middle High School’s National FFA Organization Chapter won second place in the State FFA Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event on Saturday, March 17, at the Miller Plant Science Building on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Team members Madison Miles, Cayla Morris, Amonica Kirkland, and Tyler Smith became eligible to compete at the state event after winning the Area IV Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event on February 28 in Swainsboro.

FFA is one of three co-curricular student organizations available to students within PMHS’s four career pathways. PMHS’s Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program offers two agricultural-related career pathways: Plant & Landscape Systems and Horticulture & Forest Science. The Nursery/Landscape Career Development Events at the area and state level allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in plant materials, plant disorders, cultural practices, design and construction, supplies and equipment, safety, interpersonal relations, marketing and records and reports. Dr. Tom Marshall is the school’s instructor for these career pathways and the advisor for Portal’s FFA chapter. The Nursery/Landscape Career Development Event is sponsored by the Georgia FFA Foundation.

FFA is a national organization of over 600,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. FFA is an integral part of the agricultural education program in public schools. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Teams gathered in a gym on a Saturday morning in March usually means basketball, but in Bulloch County, it’s an annual mathematics showdown, the Penny Sikes Math Tournament. Celebrating its 35th year, this year’s tournament attracted more than 160 fifth and sixth-grade mathletes from 16 local public, private and charter elementary and middle schools who competed in individual and ciphering rounds. The event is organized and hosted annually by the Southeast Bulloch High School (SEBHS) Math Department.

Julia P. Bryant Elementary and Southeast Bulloch Middle School took the Top Overall Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade Team awards after three hours of individual and team competitions. Other Overall Team placements for fifth grade were Sallie Zetterower Elementary, 2nd Place and Brooklet Elementary, 3rd Place. For sixth grade, Langston Chapel Middle was 2nd Place and Bulloch Academy was 3rd Place.

The tournament’s namesake was on hand, and SEBHS Math Teacher Pat Collins introduced her during the awards ceremony. Collins shared that he served as a student teacher in Sikes’ classroom in the spring of 1990.

“I want to thank the parents who support these children, and I want to thank the children for being brave enough to be on a team, try something different, and not be afraid to be good at it,” Sikes said. Sikes is a former math teacher and administrator, who retired from Bulloch County Schools in 2003. She began the tournament in 1983, to provide a competitive outlet for math students and as a recruitment tool for math teams. “We started the tournament with fundraising money,” Sikes said. “At the time there were very few math competitions, and we had to go to Armstrong in Savannah if we wanted to compete.”

Bulloch County now boasts three local tournaments: the Georgia Southern Math Tournament in February, the Penny Sikes Math Tournament in March, and the Reggie Dawson Memorial Math Tournament for third and fourth-grade students in April. These tournaments are open to all public, private, charter and home schools in Bulloch County.

“It’s not an easy task, but the teachers at Southeast Bulloch have this event down well,” said Sikes. “I look forward to it continuing.” Each of Bulloch County Schools’ nine elementary and four middle schools competed in the tournament along with Bulloch Academy and Statesboro STEAM Academy. SEBHS’s Math Department faculty (Pat Collins, Susan Boddiford, Amy Bettinger, Kristen Barnhill, Tammy Olliff, Maria Oliver, Ansley Burke, Elizabeth Garvin, Heather Brown and Paula Miller) organize and host the Tournament each year. They are especially appreciative of Farmers and Merchants Bank’s and Penny Sikes’ long-standing sponsorships that allow students to compete for free. Other local businesses, Ken's IGA, South Georgia Sales, Coca Cola, and Uncle Shugs and Chick Fil A donate food and coupons each year for the students and coaches.

Individual Competition
In the Individual Competitions each of the 164 participants took a 50-question, written test. The top-ten students for both fifth and sixth grades received awards, and their scores were factored into the overall team awards.

My name is Irina Bowen. I have been a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Langston Chapel Elementary School for 12 years. It is owing to these wonderful people I work with, who make a difference in the lives of our English learners, that these have been the greatest years of my professional life.

Prior to pursuing a teaching career in the United States, I was a lecturer in British and American cultural studies and a TESOL instructor working with college students in Russia. I was also part of an international project at Ghent University Language Centre in Belgium designing teaching materials for English as a foreign language.

My interest in language teaching and research stems from my educational and life experiences. I earned my bachelor's (English and German) from USPU, Russia, master's (Applied Linguistics) from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and doctorate (TESOL) from the University of Exeter, UK.

Embracing diversity and multiculturalism is what education should stand for. My knowledge of cultural diversity is rooted in my familial experiences and my exposure to new cultures through traveling. I have come to understand that a multicultural world is an intricate system of symbols and relationships we may not fully comprehend. However, we should recognize that despite our differences, we are all humans breathing the same air. Accepting and celebrating differences make our world a better place.

Teaching ESOL is a powerful, unpredictable, and most gratifying experience. Students who come from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds are children of our American society, a homeland where they were born or a new home they arrived at with their parents in search of hope and opportunity. For these children, school is the land of hope and opportunity. It is the only place that can build a bridge between their heritage experiences and a new culture. It is the only place besides family that can help them develop a stronger sense of self-identity and shape their understanding of the dynamics of life in today's world.

Teaching English to students of other languages, is not just teaching vocabulary and language conventions. It is fostering a powerful thought that language and culture are inseparable where one cannot exist without the other. Learning another language is akin to living a whole new life with its own meaning and logic. Children learning another language opens up new cultural horizons for themselves and explores new communication avenues. Indeed, I want my students to be proficient in English and understand lessons taught in school. But I also want my students to preserve the riches of their cultural heritage and develop bilingual awareness where both languages matter.

I teach ESOL because teaching a language is what I do best. Language acquisition is a miracle that people do not fully understand. When children learn a language, they seek their own ways to approach learning. To the best of my ability, I advocate for my students and empower them to find their own ways in learning.

My name is Beth Cannon, and I am a third-grade reading and social studies teacher at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School. I have been an educator for six years, serving in both Bulloch County and Colquitt County for three years.

I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from Georgia Southern University. I am currently completing my Educational Leadership degree from GA Southern.

Many factors and individuals influenced me to become a teacher, but the most important was my desire to make a difference in the lives of others, especially children. Year after year, I am left with the fire to make a bigger impact on my students’ and their families’ lives. I challenge myself each year to be everything my students need. I want them to reflect on their time in my classroom as an everlasting positive experience and what kindles their love for learning.

I remind students of their purpose and the expectations I hold for them. I remind them we are a team that must work together to be successful. There are days I make difficult phone calls to inform parents about a tough day. The conversation is not always easy, but I remind parents I am here for them, and we are a team for their child’s success.

My hopes and dreams for my students are unimaginable. I love the challenge of helping them achieve. My goal is to make them excited to come back and learn each day.

I chose teaching as a career because I want to make a positive impact on tomorrow’s future. I am excited about the opportunity to work with children of all ages and finding out how each child learns. I know I teach children, but I also learn from them. I am constantly tested on my ability to be a great teacher, the strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and many other aspects that come with teaching.

Being a teacher is not for the weak at heart. It takes a special person to wake every morning with the passion to love someone else’s child as your own and do whatever it takes for that child to be successful. Students need us, both teachers and parents, to love them and instill a desire to continuously learn and grow.

Editor's Note: Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1.

Southeast Bulloch Middle School, with assistance from the district's Title I family engagement program, is hosting a series of Spring into Reading events for children in the Nevils, Brooklet and Stilson communities. The events are in celebration of National Reading Month and to support the school district's reading and literacy initiatives. Look for the yellow school bus book mobiles in Brooklet, Stilson and Nevils on the following dates:

"We were very fortunate to have more than 1,200 books donated for these events, and I am very excited about being able to take these out to the families," said Sherry Jordan, who serves as the school system's family engagement.coordinator for schools in the Southeast Bulloch district. For more information contact Sherry Jordan at 912.618.0287 or sjordan@bullochschools.org. See attached flyers.

Bethany Boyer, a seventh-grade student at William James Middle School, is the statewide winner of the 2017 Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) Student Design Competition for the Grades 6-8 category. Boyer will be honored during the annual Georgia Appreciation Week Awards Luncheon on April 27, at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. During the luncheon Governor Nathan Deal will recognize Georgia’s Manufacturers of the Year as well as Boyer and the elementary and high school-level Student Design Competition winners. She received $500 for her winning entry which showcases Georgia industries and products.

“This is the first winner we’ve had from our service delivery area,” said Statesboro Mayor Jan Moore. Moore, who also serves as vice president of economic development for Ogeechee Technical College (OTC), surprised Boyer in the school’s media center where family and friends were gathered to congratulate the young artist. Each year OTC submits both a manufacturer of the year nominee and MAW Student Design Competition entries to the Technical College System of Georgia. The TCSG, the Georgia Association of Manufacturers, Georgia Power Company and the Georgia Institute of Technology are sponsors of MAW and its competitions.

“We are so excited for Bethany, Bulloch County Schools, and our community,” said Kathleen Kosmoski of OTC. “Kathleen said she felt we had a winner when she was reviewing the local entries,” said Moore.

WJMS Art Teacher Autumn Horton encouraged her students and art club members to participate in the contest. “Bethany is a member of our art club, and I am so proud of her,” said Horton.

“I love to draw,” said Boyer. “I’m not quite sure how to spend the money yet.” Boyer is the daughter of Forrest and Mary Boyer of Statesboro.

According to the competition’s guidelines, kindergarten through twelfth-grade students submitted entries which depicted the “importance of manufacturing to their lives and communities.” Manufacturing Appreciation Week is April 24-28. It celebrates the impact Georgia’s 9,456 industries and the nearly 400,000 jobs they provide have on the state’s economy.

Bulloch County Schools has received international accreditation from AdvancED for another five-year term. The announcement was made March 8, during a called Board of Education meeting where an AdvancED external review presented its summary report. The district will receive a full report in six weeks.

“You are on the brink of doing incredible things,” said John Sedey of St. Paul, Minnesota, the lead evaluator for the six-member external review team who visited the district March 5-9. “You have the right people and pieces in place.”

“What we received from the accreditation report is a testimony to what Bulloch County Schools has become,” said Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. “This is a continuous improvement journey toward excellence to give our students what they need and deserve. We are transforming, and I thank each of our employees as well as our community members, who have reached out and come along side of us.”

Sedey and his team evaluated the school system based on a set of five standards and two diagnostics. The district’s overall rating of 280.9, is slightly higher than AdvancED’s network average of 278.03 for other accredited systems worldwide. Bulloch County Schools’ leadership capacity (319.44) and resource utilization (302.08) scores far exceeded AdvancED’s respective network averages of 292.76 and 284.48. The district’s teaching and learning impact score of 250.79 is lower than the network’s average of 267.91.

Sedey quickly pointed out that teaching and learning is an area where the team felt actions were in place and the district was poised to make improvements happen, particularly with its work in creating a guaranteed and viable curriculum across all schools. “You don’t have problems, you have challenges,” Seday said. The external review process is not a “gotcha” but a means to stimulate and guide continuous improvement.

In Sedey’s 30-minute presentation to the Board, school system employees and community members, he highlighted three areas as “powerful practices,” three “priority improvements,” and two “opportunities for improvement.”

“We are not required to provide systems with any powerful practices, but we are leaving you with three,” Seday said. “These are things we think you are doing just about better than anyone.”

Powerful Practices
• Bulloch County Schools engages in a comprehensive and inclusive strategic planning and resource management process.
• Bulloch County Schools engages families and community in a variety of ways to provide multiple opportunities for input, information, and participation as partners in the education of their children.
• Bulloch County School System has implemented an exemplary culture of collaboration through professional learning communities that is consistent with the district’s purpose and direction.

The AdvancEd team is required to give school districts at least one priority improvement. They provided Bulloch County Schools with three. The school system has two years to work on these identified priorities and submit an accreditation progress report in order to keep its accreditation status. It’s worthy of note that in the district’s 2011 accreditation process, strategic planning was a priority improvement area, and in five years, the school system and community have now made strategic planning a powerful practice.

Priority Improvements
• Implement a comprehensive, vertically aligned, and monitored curriculum that ensures equitable and challenging learning experiences for all students and prepares them for success at the next level.
• Expand the induction and mentoring program to ensure that teachers and leaders have comprehensive support to implement the system’s instructional process.
• Implement a coordinated system to ensure that all professional and instructional support staff are trained in the interpretation and use of data to impact instruction.

“Continuous improvement is a journey, and we are well positioned to address these things,” said Superintendent Charles Wilson. “The AdvancED team reinforced and validated the areas of needed improvement we had already identified in our self-evaluation process.

The AdvancED team is not required to give districts suggested opportunities for improvement, but it did provide two. The district may use these to guide its efforts, but is not required to report back on these items as with the Priority Improvements.

Opportunity for Improvement
• Design and evaluate a formal structure where each student is well known by at least one adult advocate in the school who supports his/her educational experience.
• Implement and regularly evaluate the consistent use of district grading and reporting policies, processes and procedures at all schools, across grade levels and courses.

For more than two years Bulloch County Schools' administrators planned, gathered evidence and conducted a thorough self-evaluation process in preparation for the external review team’s visit.

To evaluate the system, the AdvancED team reviewed a 60-page

Accreditation Report and supporting evidence compiled by a team of Bulloch County Schools’ faculty and administrators. They heard briefings about the system and its work in each of the standards and diagnostic areas. They conducted focus groups and one-on-one interviews with a total of 237 Bulloch County stakeholders, including Board members (7), administrators (30), support staff (18) faculty (81), parents (20), students (72) and other local citizens (9). “This was quite a large number for a site visit,” Seday said. They also toured seven of the district’s 15 schools and visited 60 classrooms.

AdvancED, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization, is recognized as a global leader in providing continuous improvement and accreditation services to over 32,000 institutions serving 20 million students worldwide. The accreditation process adds another level of accountability to the school system. In Georgia, school systems must maintain accreditation in order for their students to be eligible to receive HOPE scholarships.

The Board of Education approved Superintendent Charles Wilson's personnel recommendations on March 9, at its scheduled regular session. The recommendations included Jennifer Wade being named principal of Mill Creek Elementary and Dr. Laurie Mascolo as principal of Portal Elementary. The two administrators have served as interim principals since the school year began.

The school system posted the two positions in February and conducted a search which resulted in five candidates in addition to Wade and Mascolo. Three of the five interviewed for both positions.

"These ladies courageously and dutifully stepped up last year to serve as interim principal for their schools during uncertain and last-minute conditions," Superintendent Charles Wilson said. "They led with the heart and values of our district in the face of those conditions. We are very proud of them and to have them as part of our leadership team."

Wilson appointed Wade as interim principal of MCES in July 2016, when he transferred the school’s former principal, Patrick Hill to Portal Middle High School after Dr. Karen Doty retired. He appointed Mascolo as interim principal at PES in August 2016, after the resignation of Paul Hudson. Wade and Mascolo had each previously served the district as assistant principals prior to their interim appointments.

Bethany Gilliam, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Statesboro High School has been selected by Georgia’s Family Community & Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter to receive its Master Adviser Award. Gilliam, who is an advisor for Statesboro’s FCCLA chapter, will be honored on March 17, during the 2017 Georgia FCCLA State Leadership Conference at the Classic Center in Athens.

"I am honored to be selected as a Master Adviser from the state of Georgia,” Gilliam said. “I know it would not be possible without my amazing students.”

The Master Adviser Award recognizes FCCLA advisers who have been successful in the following: advising an affiliated chapter for a minimum of three years, promoting the organization, operating an integrated chapter with a balanced program of work, facilitating youth-centered activities and keeping abreast of new happenings within the organization. "FCCLA is a wonderful co-curricular student organization with which I am proud to be an advisor,” Gilliam added.

Georgia FCCLA has also forwarded Gilliam’s application to the FCCLA’s national headquarters in Reston, VA, for recognition at the 2017 National Leadership Conference in Nashville, this July. In a statement issued by Georgia FCCLA, the organization said, “We commend Bethany’s demonstrated ability to organize and carry out meaningful FCCLA chapter activities.”

Gilliam is a 2008 graduate of Statesboro High, and this is her first year with Bulloch County Schools. The courses she teaches at SHS are part of the school’s Early Childhood Education Career Pathway. She previously taught four years with Long County Schools, where she also served as a FCCLA advisor and had students advance to the state and national levels of competition each year and had two students serve as state officers.

Gilliam is also the FCCLA advisor for the organization’s Region Nine. In this role she oversees the setup of region competitions and serves as an informational resource for fellow advisors.

The AdvancED External Review Team has recommended to the AdvancED Accreditation Commission that Bulloch County Schools receive the distinction of accreditation for another five years. The External Review Team presented its exit report to the Bulloch County Board of Education and public on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., at the district's Central Office. A copy of the Team's presentation is attached. The full report will be available to the district in six weeks.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. Jennifer Cooper is Brooklet Elementary School's teacher of the year. This is her story:

My name is Jennifer A. Cooper. I am a reading and math teacher at Brooklet Elementary School for children in kindergarten - second grade. I’ve been teaching for 24 years, 10 years in Alabama, and 14 years in Georgia, with Bulloch County Schools. I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University.

Two major factors influenced me in the decision to become a teacher. When I was in third grade, my teacher had us write a paper about our future careers. After pondering the assignment, I felt I was created to be a teacher. From that moment I became passionate about pursuing a future as an educator. Another influencing factor was that I had a parent in the military, so moving often, and being the new kid at school, was a way of life for me. There were a few teachers during those years who took the time to notice me and make me feel special. I never forgot them or the way they made me feel.

My philosophy of teaching is deeply rooted in my faith. I fully know I was called into teaching, and have been given the talents to make a difference in this profession. Throughout my 24 years in education, I have anchored my various approaches to teaching around one important idea. I believe it is essential to begin by making students feel accepted, loved, and important. Like the anonymous quote says, “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” In our overly-scheduled, easily-agitated, and stressed-out world, kind words seem to have often become a forgotten part of daily communication.

Teachers can sometimes work with students who have broken hearts and crushed spirits, which can make focusing on academic standards difficult. It takes very little effort to use words of affirmation and a gentle tone of voice to make students feel loved, welcomed, and unguarded. Dale Carnegie once said, “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” I believe the call of a teacher is to touch the soul as well as teach the mind.

Enjoy our Teacher of the Year Profile series each Thursday in the Statesboro Herald February 23 - June 1. This year's Bulloch County Teacher of the Year is Susan Reagan of Mill Creek Elementary School. This is her story.

My name is Susan Reagan, and I am a reading teacher for kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Mill Creek Elementary School, where I have served for three years. I have helped support the language arts, reading and math skills of children in Bulloch County Schools for 23 years, particularly at Statesboro High, William James Middle and Nevils Elementary.

I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature and composition from Chapman University and the University of Virginia. I also obtained my specialist’s degree in learning disabilities and assessment from the University of Georgia.

I began teaching because I wanted to impart my love of learning to others. I know that I have granted the gift of literacy to many children. Those children can now read a test to earn a driver’s license, they can read a ballot to vote, in time they will read notes that come home to them as parents, and they will read to their own children at night. “Literacy is the foundation of a free life,” Frederick Douglass wrote. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” I know that my students are stronger, more capable because they can read. They are free. That is what influences me to strive daily to be the best reading teacher.

One of my proudest moments as a teacher comes from a student I taught at Nevils Elementary. He came to me without the ability to read. After my first week of teaching I received a call from a parent. Anxiety swirled in my stomach. What could I have done? Come to find out she was ecstatic. She told me all about how her son climbed down from the bus with a paper in his hand exclaiming, “Mama, Mama!!! I can READ!” It is moments like this, which push me to become the best teacher I can be.

Since those early days of teaching students with disabilities, I have learned a tremendous amount in my field. Every year I feel a greater sense of accomplishment with my students.

Teaching can be grueling. There are many factors beyond our control. But then, there’s my classroom. My students enter my room, we close the door, and each day we inch toward a changed world. In every regard, we as human beings are constantly growing. I encourage everyone, in every field to do their best. Our future depends upon it.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet in a called session on Wednesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m., in the board room of the school district's Central Office. The purpose of the meeting is for the Board, school system employees and the public to hear the AdvancED External Review Team's exit report as part of the school system's reaccreditation process. The AdvancED team visited the district March 5-8. For more information about the accreditation process visit www.bullochschools.org/advanced

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session on Thursday, March 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the Central Office. Key topics for discussion include the following: The Education Special Local Option Sales Tax Committee, the Georgia School Boards Association Legislative Positions, application of state funds for HVAC replacements, Certificates of Resolution of Completion for facilities upgrades at Stilson and Nevils Elementary Schools, and minority recruitment. A complete agenda and Board Packet are attached and posted online at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets

Nine students from Bulloch County Schools took their drug and alcohol resistance message to Georgia's Capitol recently as part of Substance Abuse Prevention Day. The students met with Senator Jack Hill and shared about their youth action team's work in Bulloch County and the need for drug and alcohol prevention efforts statewide.

Youth action teams are part of the Bulloch Alcohol & Drug Council's services to the community and the school system. The teams help the Council plan and implement peer-focused drug and alcohol prevention and community service projects. Portal Middle High School, Southeast Bulloch Middle School, and William James Middle School each have a youth action team.

It's the Bulloch Alcohol & Drug Council's mission to provide information and education about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs on youth, as well as, provide referrals to treatment for those families adversely affected.

The AdvancED External Review Team arrived Sunday evening, March 5, to begin Bulloch County Schools' 2017 re-accreditation process. Board members, Central Office administrators and principals welcomed the six-member team to the district during a dinner at Statesboro High School.

Monday morning, March 6, Superintendent Charles Wilson made a 45-minute presentation to the team about the community, the school system, our strategic planning and continuous improvement processes and our journey since our last AdvancED accreditation visit in 2011. The team followed up this presentation with a one-on-one interview with Superintendent Wilson.

At 10:00 a.m., on Monday, Central Office administrators made a 45-minute report which summarized our year-long self assessment process. They shared evidence and how we ranked our efforts in the areas of purpose and direction, governance and leadership, teaching and assessing for learning, resources and support systems, and using our results for continuous improvement. They also shared student performance data, and results from our AdvancED stakeholder survey conducted in fall 2016. Attached is the district's complete self assessment report, which was submitted to AdvancED prior to the external review team's visit. The district will make an audio and visual recording of these two presentations available later this week.

The remainder of the external review team's first day consisted of focus group interviews with the Board of Education, central office administrators, and groups of parents.

On Wednesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m.,in the board room of the district's central office,the AdvancED External Review Team will present an exit report to the Board of Education, school system employees and the public. The school system participates in this targeted self-reflection and continuous improvement process every five years.

Bulloch County Schools has previously earned and maintains system accreditation through AdvancED. AdvancED is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts rigorous, on-site external reviews of Pre-K-12 schools and school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential.

Every five years the school system participates in this targeted self-reflection process. It helps evaluate the school system's purpose and direction, governance and leadership, teaching and assessing for learning, resources and support systems, and engagement with stakeholders.

AdvancED conducted its last Quality Assurance Review of the system on September 18 - September 21, 2011, and determined that the district and each of its schools met the Accreditation Standards for a Quality School system. The next Quality Assurance Review is scheduled for March 5-8, 2017.

The district's teacher leaders, principals and administrators have been preparing for this current accreditation process since Fall 2015. They have completed a thorough self assessment of the system, reviewed student data and surveyed stakeholders. The AdvancED External Review Team will be hearing reports from the superintendent and the school system's accreditation team, interviewing board of education members, faculty, staff, parents and community stakeholders, and making site visits to some of the district's schools.

The AdvancED External Review Team will present an exit report to the Board of Education, school system employees and the public on Wednesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's central office.

Bulloch County Schools is seeking input from the community, parents guardians, and students about the Title I Parent Involvement Plans and Home + School Compacts for each of its elementary and middle schools. This annual review will help develop plans for the 2017-2018 school year. Please submit feedback via email to Georgi Darsey, the district's federal programs director at gdarsey@bullochschools.org or by contacting a school's family liaison(click link for list of contacts). You can access copies of each school's current Title I documents on a school's website or in a school's Family Resource Room or main office. The review period will end Friday, March 31.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will host its scheduled work session on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6:30 p.m., at the school district's Central Office in Statesboro. The meeting will feature a training session for the Board on governance and ethics. A complete packet of the information to be discussed is attached and is available at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets

The Society of Women Engineers at Georgia Southern University is hosting a Girls in Engineering Day event for middle school and high school girls ages 13 - 18 on Saturday, March 4, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., at the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering Building on the University's campus. Tickets for the event are $15. Register online via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girls-in-engineering-day-registration-23464492930

Bulloch County Schools posted principal positions this week for Portal Elementary School, Mill Creek Elementary School and Southeast Bulloch High School. The district’s annual principal contract process, which culminates in May, will begin with a search for these positions due to the retirement of SEBHS Principal Donna Clifton and the expiration of the one-year interim principal contracts for Jennifer Wade of MCES and Dr. Laurie Mascolo of PES. Superintendent Charles Wilson plans to recommend candidates to the Board of Education by March 9 for MCES and PES and by April 13 for SEBHS.

“The Board of Education and I are committed to following the district’s established principal screening and selection process to ensure we have leaders in place, who will carry out our vision and mission,” Wilson said. The rigorous process includes candidate screenings for leadership criteria and multiple interviews. While the superintendent will make the final recommendations, the process does allow for school council input.

Wilson appointed Wade as interim principal in July when he transferred the school’s former principal, Patrick Hill to Portal Middle High School after Dr. Karen Doty retired. He appointed Mascolo as interim principal at PES in August after the resignation of Paul Hudson. “I have deep respect and appreciation for Ms. Wade and Dr. Mascolo,” Wilson said. “They stepped up during a time of need and kept these schools moving forward.”

Wade and Mascolo are both eligible to apply for their schools’ principal positions. “They have led their campuses well this year, and we will give consideration to the work they have done,” Wilson said. Wade and Mascolo each served as assistant principals in the district prior to their interim appointments.

Donna Clifton, who will retire in June after 30 years as an educator, has served Bulloch County Schools for 23 years. She began her career in Effingham County, where she served for seven years. She began her tenure in Bulloch County as a fifth-grade teacher at Stilson Elementary.

After ten years in the classroom, Clifton became an assistant principal at SEBHS, a post she held for two years before being named principal of Southeast Bulloch Middle School. She was principal of SEBMS for six years. In 2013 Superintendent Wilson appointed her to lead SEBHS after Dr. Trey Robertson accepted an assistant superintendent’s position in Bryan County.

During her four years at SEBHS, she has been a staunch advocate for at-risk students. She has led her faculty and students to achieve a more than 10-point rise in graduation rates from 77.2 percent to 89.1 percent.

She is also a supportive supervisor. The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) awarded her both the Seven Seals Award and the Patriot Award for her support of the Air National Guard's mission and its airmen, some who have been employed by SEBHS.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m., at the school system's Central Office in Statesboro. Key topics on the agenda include the following: (1) the presentation of 13 innovation grants to teachers by the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education; (2) an E-Rate proposal for Fiscal Year 2018; (3) a minority recruitment recommendation; and (4) a facilities naming request from Statesboro High School. A complete Board packet is attached.

According to Ted Wynn of the Bulloch County Public Emergency Management Agency, an apparent tornado touched down last night in the vicinity of Old River Road and Lillie Hagan Road in Bulloch County. There are Injuries and damage in that area and emergency personnel are asking to avoid area. As a result, we will be unable to provide bus service to this area on Thursday due to road blockages.

Stilson Elementary School is open on a normal schedule. There was no damage to the school, nor did it lose power. All other bus routes are running as normal.

Eric Lim, 11, a sixth-grade student at Southeast Bulloch Middle School, is Bulloch County’s Spelling Bee champion for the second year in a row. He won the title in 2016 as a fifth-grade student at Brooklet Elementary.

Thirteen participants from the county’s 14 public and charter schools had a record word competition of 37 rounds, 30 of which were a dual between Lim and his remaining opponent, Eikem Gato of Brooklet Elementary School. After Gato incorrectly spelled rendezvous, Lim spelled fraulein and mukhtar correctly to claim the championship.

The annual Bulloch County Spelling Bee is sponsored by the local chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). Lim will advance to the District 8 Spelling Bee at Savannah State University on Feb. 25. Gato will serve as an alternate should Lim be unable to attend. The winner of the District 8 Spelling Bee will advance to the GAE State Spelling Bee on March 17, at Georgia State University and possibly the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June.

Lim is the son of Sungkyun Lim and Jee Yoon Byun, of Statesboro. Gato, 10, is the son of Worlanyo Eric Gato and Vivian Gato, and the brother of 2015 Bulloch County Spelling Bee Champion Warlanyo Gato.

The Georgia Science Teachers Association (GSTA) selected Tamra Lamb as its 2017 Georgia Science Teacher of Promise at the elementary school level. Lamb, a fifth-grade science and math teacher at Mattie Lively Elementary School was honored by GSTA at a special awards banquet on Feb. 3, at the Atlanta Evergreen Conference Resort as part of the annual GSTA Science Conference.

“Tamra Lamb is a magnificent educator whom I feel blessed to work with,” said Dr. Carolyn Vasilatos, principal of MLES. “Her passion for science is unparalleled. She’s only been teaching three years, and joined our faculty in July.” Lamb previously served the district for two years at Langston Chapel Elementary School.

Lamb received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education from Georgia Southern, where she made an equally strong impression on the faculty. She was actually nominated for the Georgia Teacher of Promise Award by one of her former professors, Dr. Katie Brkich, in the university’s Teaching and Learning Department.

“I have worked with many pre-service and in-service teachers in my six years at Georgia Southern University, but none whom I am as proud to have worked with as Tamra,” Brkich said in her letter of recommendation to GSTA. Brkich further wrote, “Tamra moved to a fifth-grade math and science position this year at Mattie Lively Elementary. She has thrived! She has not only transformed the way her students see and feel about science, but also how the other fifth-grade teachers on her team teach science.”

Lamb and other nominees had to complete an application process which included essay responses about how they would improve science education in their schools and school system, details about recent science lessons, and description of unique or creative lessons they have developed based on Georgia’s science standards. Nominees also had to submit three letters of recommendation. Applications were evaluated by a panel of judges using a rubric.

“Ms. Lamb works tirelessly to have an engaging classroom environment with multiple stations and activities prepared for her students,” said Vasilatos. “She also works very closely with the science educators at Georgia Southern.”

The GSTA’s Teacher of Promise awards recognize science teachers with one to three years of experience who demonstrate exceptional promise. The elementary, middle and high school recipients each received a $750 prize. Kia Mills of AR Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School in Richmond County was GSTA’s middle school-level winner, and Elizabeth Downey of Allatoona High School in Cobb County was the high school-level winner.

The Bulloch County Sheriff's Department D.A.R.E and G.R.E.A.T Programs are sponsoring a Family Night on Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Statesboro High School for all Bulloch County Schools' Pre-K - 12th grade students and their parents. Admission is free. The event will feature Retro Bill, the official international D.A.R.E. Safety and Self-Esteem Buddy.

Retro Bill, a Hollywood actor, director, producer and writer, is known as a phenomenal speaker. He is a guest host on E! Entertainment’s “Talk Soup” and the host of America’s National Kids Day. He will speak to students and families about bullying (verbal and social media), drug awareness, gang resistance, and the Six Pillars of Good Character.

William James Middle School will receive a $2,000 grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation to help support the school's science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lab. WJMS was one of 20 middle school semifinalists nationwide to receive the grant, after competing in the Foundation's $100,000 Fab School Labs makeover contest.

"We will use the $2,000 to upgrade our 3D printing lab and add a hydroponics lab with an Arduino Garden Robot to our outdoor classroom area," said Amy Smith, WJMS's STEM teacher. Smith and WJMS appreciate the local and statewide support for their efforts to secure the grant.

Nearly 200 public middle schools from throughout the country participated in the Fab School Labs contest. The winning schools received grants of up to $100,000. The five winning schools, chosen by popular online voting are Cottonwood Valley Charter School in Socorro, New Mexico; Del Dios Academy of Arts and Sciences in Escondido, California; Downtown College Prep Alum Rock Middle School in San Jose, California; Harriet Tubman Village Charter School in San Diego, California; and UP Academy Leonard – Lawrence, Massachusetts.

On Jan. 26, the Georgia Department of Education released its 2016 School Climate Star Ratings for schools and its 2016 Financial Efficiency Star Ratings for school districts. Bulloch County Schools' ratings are posted on the district's website homepage at www.bullochschools.org. For the second year in a row the district received four out of five stars for financial efficiency.

Climate Star Ratings are based on results from three different surveys: the GeorgiaParent Survey, the Georgia School Personnel Survey and the Georgia Student Health 2.0 Survey (one for grades 3-5, one for grades 6-8, and one for grades 9-12). For more information about these ratings visit 2016 School Climate Star Ratings and 2016 Financial Efficiency Star Ratings. GaDOE provides these ratings as an informational tool for schools, administrators, parents, and communities.

Parents, students in third - twelfth grade, and school system employees can provide their input into the 2017 School Climate Star Ratings by participating in the 2017 Georgia School Climate Star Survey going on now through March 3. Students and employees take the surveys at their schools. Parents can take the online survey at

Federal law requires that the student survey questions be made available for review by all interested parties. The Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 questions are available on our district website. Copies are available to parents or other parties upon request. The GSHS 2.0 is also available in Spanish. Schools are required to survey at least 75 percent of students in each of these grades to receive a Climate Star Rating.

Georgia School Personnel Survey

The Georgia School Personnel Survey (GSPS) is modeled after the student survey and includes 31 questions. The GSPS is for all certified and classified staff members who work at least 50 percent of the day in the school. Schools are required to survey at least 75 percent of their faculty and staff to receive a Climate Star Rating.

Georgia Parent Survey

The Georgia Parent Survey is modeled after the student survey and contains 24 questions. Parents can complete the survey using any Internet-enabled device including a personal computer, smartphone or tablet. For parents that do not have access to the Internet, school administrators will allow parents to complete the survey online at school. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Again, parents can take the online survey via this link:

Bulloch County Schools' system-wide spelling bee is Monday, Feb. 6, at 7:00 p.m., in the Statesboro High School Auditorium. School-level winners from the school system's nine elementary and four middle schools will compete. The winner will advance to the district spelling bee and possibly continue to the Georgia Spelling Bee and the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The annual event is sponsored and organized by the Bulloch County chapter of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE).

Georgia 4H's performing arts group, Clovers & Co., will perform a benefit concert on Saturday, Feb. 11, 7-9 p.m., at Statesboro High School Auditorium. The talented group of high school vocalists and musicians features Southeast Bulloch High School artist, Chyann Rose Hoyle. who will perform parts of her solo act to open for the group. Other opening acts include The Southeast Bulloch High School Chorus Program 's Women's Chorus and nationally acclaimed Advanced Chorus.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance at the Bulloch County 4H office, any of Bulloch County Schools' campuses and Central Office, and any of the event's sponsors. Sponsors include Shane's Rib Shack of Statesboro, Cool Beanz Espresso Bar, Buffalo Wild Wings of Statesboro, The Sack Company, and Farmers & Merchants Bank of Statesboro.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education and its innovation grant program which funds teachers' ideas - Ideas that enhance the learning experiences for local students. The event is also a great opportunity for local and area 4H students to learn how they can audition and possibly become part of this touring company.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will host its annual education forum, Speak Up for Education, for school councils, parents and the community on Thursday, January 26, 2017, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Statesboro High School. Anyone interested in K-12 public education is invited and encouraged to attend.

Free childcare is available for the event for children ages birth - 12. Call 912.212.8553 to register your child.

All of Bulloch County Schools' campuses will be open on a normal schedule on Monday, January 23. We are in regular contact with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) as they monitor weather and road conditions and how our school system may be affected.

Our transportation department, along with Bulloch County EMA is assessing road conditions across the county, especially along our more than 101 bus routes. As of 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Bulloch County EMA has not announced any road closures. Should any areas become affected by road closures or conditions that prevent bus travel, our transportation department will contact families whose bus transportation may be temporarily interrupted.

If necessary, school administrators will work with any families who live in areas that may receive confirmed damage. We encourage parents to caution their student drivers to drive slowly and leave plenty of time and space for breaking. Never drive through water over a road as it takes only several inches of water to disable some vehicles. Parents may also want to evaluate if their student drivers have adequate experience with driving in wet conditions, and if not, parents may want to provide transportation for them tomorrow.

Continue to monitor announcements from the Bulloch County EMA, local media, and Bulloch County Schools.

The Bulloch County Board of Education approved the school system's 2017-2018 School Calendar during its regular session meeting on Jan. 12. The approved calendar was one of five options developed by a school system committee made up of teachers and administrators. A copy of the approved calendar is attached.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will have its annual organizational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the school system's Central Office in Statesboro. Key agenda items include the election of officers, the upcoming Speak Up for Education event on Jan. 26 with school councils and the community, and options for the 2017-2018 School Calendar. Complete Board Packets are available at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets or one is attached.

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) released its annual College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) scores on Dec. 8. The results are based on both school improvement efforts and third through twelfth-grade students’ performance on the Georgia Milestones assessments during the 2015-2016 school year. Click here for the district's scores and a five-year history. All scores statewide are available at http://ccrpi.gadoe.org/2016

According to the GaDOE, there was a significant year-to-year decrease in scores at the elementary level. Overall as a district, Bulloch County Schools’ elementary schools mirrored this trend while overall middle and high school scores increased. The overall school district score was 71.6 points out of a possible 100, compared to the overall state score of 73.6.

CCRPI, the official school-accountability tool used by the Georgia Department of Education and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA), has been used by the state since 2012. This is when the U.S. Department of Education granted Georgia’s waiver from No Child Left Behind, also known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and its Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement tool. CCRPI measures schools and school districts on a 100-point scale based on multiple indicators of performance.

CCRPI scores are also now the basis for accountability in Bulloch County Schools’ Strategic Waivers School System (SWSS) contract with the Governor's Office of Student Achievement. The Bulloch County Board of Education voted to pursue SWSS status at its Nov. 6, 2014 meeting. After completing the application process, the contract was approved by the State BOE on Feb. 18, 2016. The legally-binding five-year contract (2016 -2021) with the state gives the district flexibility from certain state education laws and regulations in exchange for performance.

These recently released 2015-16 (FY ’16) CCRPI scores are the baseline performance data for Bulloch County Schools’ SWSS contract with the state. Under the contract, the district’s 15 schools going forward must work to meet growth targets which will be released by GOSA in January.

It is not possible to directly compare year-to-year CCRPI scores. The previous scores listed here are for reference only. The CCRPI’s performance targets and weights have not remained constant from 2012 - 2015. Also, over the past four years, the Georgia Department of Education has changed the statewide academic standards from Common Core to the Georgia Standards of Excellence and replaced the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests and End-of-Course Tests for grades 3-12 with the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS).

Georgia Student Growth Model Data
In addition to CCRPI, the GaDOE released Student Growth Model data for 2015-16. This is a metric designed to help educators, parents, and other stakeholders better understand and analyze the individual progress students make year to year. It provides a deeper look at student growth by school and school district.

Post Readiness (30 percent/15 points): How students are performing in areas designated as indicators of their preparation for success at the next grade or education level.

Graduation Rate/Predictor (30 percent/15 points): The four-year and five-year cohort graduation rates for high schools and how well elementary and middle school students are performing in their core academic classes and corresponding state assessments as predictors for high school graduation.

Progress (40 points): Student performance on assessments relative to how other students with similar achievement histories are performing.

Achievement Gap (10 points):
• Gap Size: The gap between the school’s lowest quartile of achievers’ performance and state assessment averages.
• Gap Change: The difference between this year’s and last year’s gap sizes.

Challenge (Up to 10 points - Extra credit points)
• Performance Flags: How well student subgroups (particularly Economically Disadvantaged, English Language Learners, Students with Disabilities) achieving relative to subgroups and state performance and graduation targets.
• Exceeding the Bar Indicators: What kind of progress students are making with supplemental indicators that impact their college and career readiness.

Sallie Zetterower Elementary School is a state winner of a $500 Dr. Joe B. Crane Classroom Grant from the Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC). The school’s winning proposal, submitted by STEM Lab Teacher Ansley Mays, will begin a hydroponics program. SZES was one of three grant recipients by the GAC’s Education Committee. Other state winners included R.B. Wright Elementary School in Moultrie and Central High School in Carrollton.

Bryan Tolar, president of GAC, and Senator Jack Hill were at SZES Dec. 15,.to make a special check presentation to Mays. This is the fourth grant the SZES Stem Lab has received this year.

The school was part of a $25,000 America's Farmers Grow Rural Education Grant sponsored by Monsanto, which provided nearly $1,200 in technology and instructional resources to each of Bulloch County Schools' nine elementary school STEM labs. In addition, Mays wrote a grant proposal to the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education from which she received an iPAD, an Osmo program, and STEM literature resources for her students. Georgia Southern University's College of Education also selected a grant proposal from Mays to receive a 3D printer.

Teaching how science, technology, engineering and math relates to agriculture is a major focus of SZES's STEM Lab. It features an adjacent outdoor lab in which the school's more than 700 students are learning about plant propagation, water quality, weather, and more.

According to the GAC, agribusiness is a $74 billion industry in Georgia, the largest economic engine in the state. GAC President Bryan Tolar said, "This industry is comprised of farmers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and more engaged in the business of agriculture. We believe the proposals for these winning programs best encompass the educational aspects of both the business and spirit of this diverse industry."

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled work session on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's Central Office in Statesboro. Board agendas, packets and minutes are available online at www.bullochschools.org/board.

This is the last meeting for Chairman Mike Herndon and Dr. LeVon Wilson. Herndon has served the community for 10 years, and has been elected by his fellow Board members to serve as vice-chairman and chairman during his tenure. Dr. Wilson served the Board for four years, and was elected as its chairman for 2015.

Board members-elect Heather Mims (District 3) and Dr. Stuart Tedders (District 7) will be officially sworn in to serve their terms on Dec. 29, at 10:00 a.m., at the Bulloch County Courthouse as part of a group ceremony for county elected officials.

Editor's Note: Included in the Board Packet are minutes from a March 1, 2016, required Board training session conducted by an approved Georgia Department of Education facilitator. According to Board protocol, minutes are normally presented for approval by the Board at the following month's meeting. In this instance it was originally unclear that minutes were necessary for a training session. Recent clarification revealed minutes were necessary. The Board secretary has prepared the minutes from the training for approval by the Board prior to year end.

Bulloch County Schools' Student Services Department will soon destroy its confidential records of former special education students whose birthdays fall between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1994. Any special education records for these students with personally identifiable information used in the provision of a free and appropriate public education are no longer needed to provide educational services to these students.

These former students, with appropriate identification, may obtain their records prior to the data destruction. Contact Bulloch County Schools' Special Education Office, (8:00 a.m.to 4:30 p.m, Monday through Friday at 912-212-858). If no response is received on or before January 31, the above mentioned records will be destroyed. Please note that all Bulloch County Schools offices will be closed Dec. 19 - Dec. 30, for the holidays. Offices will reopen on Monday, Jan. 2.

Bulloch County Schools serves children whose families come from 19 different countries. There are more than 24 different native languages spoken by children who attend our 15 campuses. This treasure of international diversity makes the art, drama, music, literature and customs of different countries even more meaningful.

Throughout the year our fine arts, language arts, foreign language, history and social studies teachers help students learn about the contributions and influences that other cultures have had on history, language, music, art, drama, and literature. This is especially true during the month of December as children learn about the winter holiday traditions that are celebrated in our community, like Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. We invite you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season at these school events:

December 1 – 31, Portal Elementary School

Portal Elementary School’s Winter Holidays around the World

This learning project is funded by an innovation grant from the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education.

December 5, 7:00 p.m., at Statesboro High School Auditorium

Langston Chapel Middle School Winter Concert

The LCMS Symphonic Band, directed by Morgan Polkowski, will present its Winter Concert.

December 6, 6:30 p.m., Nevils Elementary School

Nevils Elementary School presents, “The Christmas Radio” Musical.

December 6, 6:00 p.m., Portal Middle High School

Portal Middle High Winter Band Concert

December 8, 6:30 p.m., Langston Chapel Elementary School

Langston Elementary School presents “December in Our Town.”

December 9, 5-6:30 p.m., Statesboro High School

Statesboro High, Winter Art Exhibit and Sale

Statesboro High School Art students will host their second annual Winter Art Exhibit and Sale on December 9, 5 - 6:30 p.m., in the Fine Arts Department Hallway and main hallway of SHS. Light refreshments will be served. All proceeds go directly to the student artists so please bring cash or check. Entry is free. The National Art Honor Society will be selling handmade ceramic Christmas ornaments benefiting the Denham Springs High School Art Department which lost all art supplies in a flood earlier this year. Our students look forward to sharing what they have learned and created this semester.

Second and third-grade students, under the direction of SZES Music Teacher Sydna Davidson, will present the musical, “The Mice Before Christmas.” Mice are chewing up all the toys and the elves are having a panic attack worrying about having them all finished by Christmas. But... the mice step in to save the day.

December 13, 6:00 p.m., Julia P. Bryant Elementary

Julia P. Bryant Crazy Carols musical

Second and third-grade students, under the direction of JPBES Music Teacher Tom Sye, will be performing the musical, Crazy Carols by Sally K. Albrecht. The musical takes seven Christmas favorites and changes them with wacky school-time lyrics, about students who are anxious for a snow day and for Christmas break.

December 13, 7:00 p.m., Statesboro High School

Statesboro High Band, Winter Concert

Statesboro High School’s Symphonic Band will perform their Winter Concert. It will feature the Percussion Ensemble led by the band's student teacher Sergio Arreguin, and followed by the Concert Band and Symphonic Winds. Admission is free.

December 14-16, 7:00 p.m. Southeast Bulloch High School

Southeast Bulloch High Chorus Concert

Southeast Bulloch High School’s Chorus will perform each night at 7 p.m. from December 14-16. Seating will begin around 6:15pm for those who may have a free ticket, seating without a ticket will take place around 6:45pm. The music performed will consist of a mix of some of the semester’s competition pieces as well as Christmas music.

December 16, 8:30 a.m., Sallie Zetterower Elementary Gym

Sallie Zetterower Annual Holiday Songfest

Bring the whole family to enjoy this cherished tradition of singing holiday favorites together.

The 2016-17 Georgia School Climate Star Rating Surveys for parents, personnel and students are underway. The surveys are a state accountability tool that is part of Georgia's College & Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). Parents can take the online survey at

Each of Bulloch County Schools' 15 campuses will be given a Climate Star Rating which comes from the three different surveys: the GeorgiaParent Survey, the Georgia School Personnel Survey and the Georgia Student Health 2.0 Survey (one for grades 3-5, one for grades 6-8, and one for grades 9-12).

The combined results of these surveys will be reflected in a Climate Star Rating on each school's College & Career Readiness Performance Index. The ratings are released publicly by the state as standalone results and as part of annual CCRPI scores reporting. Bulloch County Schools' current ratings can be found on the district's website homepage.

Georgia Student Health Surveys 2.0 for Grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12

Federal law requires that the student survey questions be made available for review by all interested parties. The Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0 questions are available on our district website. Copies are available to parents or other parties upon request. The GSHS 2.0 is also available in Spanish. Schools are required to survey at least 75 percent of students in each of these grades to receive a Climate Star Rating.

Georgia School Personnel Survey

The Georgia School Personnel Survey (GSPS) is modeled after the student survey and includes 31 questions. The GSPS is for all certified and classified staff members who work at least 50 percent of the day in the school. Schools are required to survey at least 75 percent of their faculty and staff to receive a Climate Star Rating.

Georgia Parent Survey

The Georgia Parent Survey is modeled after the student survey and contains 24 questions. Parents can complete the survey using any Internet-enabled device including a personal computer, smartphone or tablet. For parents that do not have access to the Internet, school administrators will allow parents to complete the survey online at school. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis. Parents can take the online survey via this link:

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session meeting on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the school system's Central Office. Key topics for discussion include the following: (1) votes on new and revised policies for student records and student data privacy; and (2) the appointment of an Education Special Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) Development Committee to lead the process and finalize a list of projects for a possible Nov. 2017 ESPLOST referendum for facilities, digital resources, technology, transportation, and safety & security upgrades within the school system.

A free, adapted sports league is now available in Bulloch County for school-aged youth, who are in Kindergarten through 12th grade thanks to the local Special Olympics Committee. Parents can register their exceptional athletes at the Honey Bowen Building between 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. or by calling the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department at 912-764-5637.

Athletes can currently participate in a bowling league. All practices and competitions will take place at The Clubhouse located on 2704 Old Register Rd., in Statesboro. Practices are Mondays from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., except for Nov. 28. That week's practice will be on Nov. 29 instead. Other upcoming practices are Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Dec. 19, Jan. 9 and Jan. 16.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled work session on Thursday, Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m., at the school system's Central Office. The Board's discussion will focus on adopting a new performance evaluation instrument for the superintendent of schools.

The Board embarked on revising the previous evaluation instrument this past spring in order to create a tool aligned with the Board of Education's vision. The proposed evaluation instrument includes rigorous goals and measurement rubrics aligned with the school system's Strategic Plan. The evaluation instrument and more information about its development are attached. All Board meeting packets are also posted on our website at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets.

Statesboro High School’s SECME program was selected as a finalist for the 2016 Georgia STEM Education Awards by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed). The annual statewide awards comprise eight different categories, and SHS was a finalist in the Extracurricular Category. All finalists were honored at a special awards gala on November 4, at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta. Though Statesboro High did not ultimately win its category’s top award, the SHS SECME program was recognized separately as having one of the top STEM programs in the state.

“We applaud all of our applicants for their excellent work in STEM,” said Tino Mantella, president & CEO of TAG. “It is so gratifying to see STEM education gaining momentum throughout the state of Georgia,” added Michael Robertson, executive director of TAG-Ed.

The Georgia STEM Education Awards recognize schools, programs, and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education in Georgia. “It truly means a lot to be recognized as one of the best programs in the state,” said SHS Science Teacher and SECME Advisor Rich McCombs. “SECME is designed to spark the interest of kids from all backgrounds in the fields of science, engineering, technology and math.”

McCombs began Statesboro’s SECME program in 2002. It has grown into a successful STEM opportunity for students from various backgrounds and academic levels. The SHS SECME Team has swept its regional competitions and advanced to national competition the last seven years. The team has been national champions in Water Bottle Rocket three times and finished top three in the nation in VEX Robotics and Mousetrap Car events. Several students from the SHS program have gone on to graduate from post-secondary engineering institutions and are now gainfully employed around the country in engineering fields.

McCombs was also a finalist for SECME’s National Teacher of the Year in 2006, and he won the coveted title in 2013. He and his students are now sharing their experiences by collaborating with SHS’s feeder schools to establish SECME programs at Julia P. Bryant Elementary, Langston Chapel Middle School and William James Middle School. All of which are already achieving at the regional and national level as well.

For more information about TAG and the Fifth Annual Georgia STEM Education Awards visit: http://www.tagonline.org/events/stem-education-awards/.

About SECME
SECME (not an acronym) was founded in 1975 by the Engineering Deans from six Southeastern universities: Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Tuskegee. It is a non-profit alliance that extends to 40 school systems, 37 major engineering universities, and industries and agencies in 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Grand Bahamas. SECME's mission is to increase the pool of historically under-represented and under-served students who
will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), thus creating a diverse and globally competitive workforce. SECME provides teacher professional development and coordinates student competitions across the country. Its National Headquarters is housed on the campus of The Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

About The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG’s mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia’s technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy.

The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia’s technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state’s economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organization for 34 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG’s charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG’s community website at www.hubga.com.

About TAG Education Collaborative
TAG Education Collaborative is dedicated to developing science, technology, engineering and math initiatives in Georgia. Through partnerships with statewide STEM programs, TAG-Ed fosters student interest in STEM in order to increase appreciation for the opportunities available through technology careers. TAG-Ed hosts an internship program for high school students, two web-based team challenges for students interested in Health IT and web design, and the Vine Event, an annual fundraiser benefiting STEM education. For additional information, visit TAG Education Collaborative or contact Michael Robertson at (404) 920 – 2038 or mrobertson@tagonline.org.

Students from two of Statesboro High School's career pathways, Architecture & Construction and Audio Video Technology & Film (AVTF), will be competing, videoing, and live streaming their participation in the Third Annual Skills Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Augusta Fairgrounds. Hosted by the East Georgia Workforce Development Alliance , the event will provide skill building and career networking opportunities for more than 700 faculty, students and company representatives.

Eight schools, including SHS will compete in carpentry, plumbing, masonry and electrical. Six students from Statesboro High's brand new AVTF career pathway are working with ESE Networks to film, edit video and live stream the event for the competition's organizers. Area industries have donated more than $35,000 in sponsorships for the event so that participating schools and their students can compete at no cost.

The East Georgia Workforce Development Alliance is one of 11 such alliances across the state. Their purpose is to facilitate collaboration between industry members, students, high school counselors, CTAE teachers and school administrators for building skills and workforce development.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation announced today that William James MIddle School is one of 25 public middle school semifinalists in its Fab School Labs STEM Lab Makeover contest. To secure the funds, WJMS supporters will need to vote for the school online on Friday, Dec. 9. This is part of a week-long online voting campaign for each finalist, with WJMS being scheduled for this date. The funds would allow WJMS to renovate and upgrade its existing STEM lab into a state-of-the-art science lab. Amy Smith, the school's STEM teacher was instrumental in preparing WJMS's application. Remember to vote online for WJMS on Dec. 9., on the Fab School Labs Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FabSchoolLabs.

Southeast Bulloch High School Principal Donna Clifton was recently awarded the Seven Seals Award by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The prestigious national award is given only to employers at the discretion of the ESGR’s State Chair or its senior leadership. This is Clifton's second honor for her support of Guard and Reserve employees.

According to the ESGR’s official statement, “Donna Clifton has gone above and beyond in her support of the Air National Guard mission and the Airmen who carry it out, including one of Southeast Bulloch High School’s own teachers, Brent Whitaker. Multiple military deployments can take a toll on any organization, and Mrs. Clifton’s unwavering support has helped to further the mission of our Air National Guard.”

Clifton was nominated by Senior Master Sergeant Brent Whitaker, the SEBH’s acclaimed director of choral operations, who is a member of the Air National Guard and the ANG Band of the South. “Mrs. Clifton has been one of the strongest supporters of Guard and Reserve members that I have ever had a chance to work with,” said Whitaker. “In my line of military service, I have been gone a lot over the years, and often this can happen with little warning. I have never felt the slightest bit of disapproval from her due to my military service, and, in fact, she has bent over backwards to make sure I am okay and able to juggle everything when these military events call me away. Knowing you have a supportive and caring boss back home makes the absences away so much easier. I couldn’t do my military job on the road as well if I didn’t know she had my back here at home.”

According to the ESGR, it presents the Seven Seals Award in “recognition of significant individual or organizational achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission, to include the efforts of the more than 4,500 volunteers who carry out ESGR’s mission across the Nation on a daily basis.”

"I have the utmost respect for Mr. Whitaker's devotion to our country,” Clifton said. “It is my duty to support him not only as a teacher, but also as a reservist. We at SEBHS are proud and honored to have him as a teacher."

Clifton has previously received the ANG’s Patriot Award, and now is the first SEBHS principal to receive the Seven Seals Award. The Patriot Award is given to individual supervisors and reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.

Employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating service member and his or her family. Bulloch County Schools encourages its administrators to support Guard and Reserve personnel.

# # #

Pictured L-R: SEBHS Principal Donna Clifton and Chuck Clark, the employer outreach director for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

The Fall Leadership Conference for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapters across the state was a success for Statesboro High as Angela Smith, an officer for her club, received the Statesman Award. The state award is given to a member who demonstrates overall knowledge of FCCLA and its history.

Smith and two additional SHS members joined more than 1,200 students and 200 faculty advisors in Covington, September 15-16, at the FFA-FCCLA Center. They participated in leadership workshops, planned their chapter’s program of work and participated in competitions.

The Statesboro High FCCLA Chapter, is a co-curricular student organization for the school’s Culinary Arts and Family & Consumer Sciences Career Pathways within the school system’s Career Technical and Agriculture Education program. The local SHS chapter is advised by Bethany Gilliam and Cindy Hart.

FCCLA is a national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has over 160,000 members and over 4,500 chapters from 50 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more than ten million youth since its founding in 1945. The Statesboro High FCCLA Chapter has 56 members. For more information on Georgia FCCLA, visit www.gafccla.com.

Our schools teach all students the patriotic rituals, symbols, and songs of our country. They also learn of the sacrifices our military has made to protect our freedoms. Several of our schools are hosting Veterans Day programs, and they each cordially invite veterans, active duty military personnel and the public to attend.

Portal Elementary School Music Teacher, Dr. Debbie Cartee, and the school's chorus will present its annual patriotic musical, "Thank You, Heroes," to honor those who served and who currently serve our country in the armed services. All local veterans are invited to attend, and they will be recognized during the program. All veterans are also invited to have lunch following the program.

Portal Middle High School is dedicating a new Portal Veterans Memorial at the flag pole of its newly renovated athletic complex. All veterans, active duty military and the public are invited to attend.

The Portal Pride Band and Portal Elementary School Chorus will perform at the dedication. The school's middle school VFW Essay Contest Winner Marlie Motes will read her essay at the dedication., and Larry Motes, former mayor of Portal and U. S. Army veteran, will be the guest speaker.

Thursday, November 10, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

WJMS 2nd Annual Veterans/Military Appreciation Day

William James Middle School will host its 2nd Annual Veterans Day/Military Appreciation Day event on Thursday, Nov. 10, 8:30 a.m. - The school is inviting all veterans and active-duty military to come WJMS on this day to be recognized by the faculty, staff and students. Veterans and active-duty military are welcome to come to classrooms to talk about their training and experiences.

8:30 a.m. - School-wide assembly where all
attending Veterans and Active Duty Soldiers will be recognized.

10:00 a.m. - National Guard Armory vehicles and equipment on display (all day). Students will take tours of the equipment and vehicles during their Connections groups.

Mill Creek Elementary School’s staff and students would like to invite all veterans and active duty military to their 12th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon & Parade. The luncheon is at 12:00 noon in the cafeteria. Please RSVP for the lunch by calling 212-8780. The parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. in front of the school. Special reserved seating is available for veterans and active duty military.

Thursday, November 10, 2:00 p.m.
Langston Chapel Middle School Veterans Day Program

“Honoring Those Who Served”

(Reception for Veterans & Active Duty Military at 1 p.m.)

All veterans, active duty military and their families are invited to join Langston Chapel Middle School as they recognize our community's military heroes from all branches of service and all conflicts during their annual Veterans Day ceremony.

The school will host a drop-in reception at 1:00 p.m. for all veterans and military guests prior to the main ceremony at 2:00 p.m, in the gymnasium. LCMS parents are also invited.

The program will be led by LCMS students. It features guest speaker COL George Fredrick, of the United States Army. Commander Emil N. Kemp and Past Commander Rev./Dr. Enos V. Garvin, United States Army, and members of the Disabled American Veterans, Local Chapter #8, will also be part of the program.

The school’s chorus and band, will perform patriotic music, including “Taps.” The Statesboro High School Air Force JROTC Color Guard and Exhibition Team will present the colors and perform. Students will also perform the Missing Man Ceremony.

Bulloch County Schools' third-grade gifted (QUEST) students were geology majors for the day during a recent visit to Georgia Southern University. Students from each of the district's nine elementary schools participated in a variety of STEM learning opportunities.

The hands-on activities engaged students in learning about the earth's changes over time, examining and documenting fossils, analyzing and classifying rocks and minerals, collecting and testing well water for ph levels and hardness, and discovering ways GA Southern uses sustainable measures to preserve natural resources

The Georgia Southern Museum's Hall of Natural History was the place students learned about paleontology, fossils, extinction, characteristics of fossils, and using scientific tools to measure and identify teeth fossils. Students from the Geology and Geography Department conducted a walking tour of five stations on campus to help students identify and learn about sustainable features: minerals and society; fossils; soils; groundwater quality and sampling; and groundwater chemistry.

GA Southern's Math & Physics Department, its Interdisciplinary STEM Institute, the Center for Sustainability, the Wildlife Education Center, the Multimedia Development Center, and the Garden of the Coastal Plain have all provided STEM opportunities for the district's students.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session meeting on Thursday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m., in the board room of the district's Central Office. Key items on the agenda include a presentation about the district's upcoming AdvancED re-accreditation process, a vote on the application to the Georgia Department of Education for modifications to Portal Elementary and Mill Creek Elementary, a review of the superintendent's evaluation instrument, and new and revised policies. A complete Board packet for the meeting is available at www.bullochschools.org/boardpackets

Five-year trend shows district's graduates are closing gap between state & national peers

Bulloch County Schools’ 2016 graduates achieved higher scores than their 2015 peers in all tested subjects for both the ACT and SAT. While graduates’ scores can typically fluctuate up or down from year to year, the district’s five-year trend data across all tested subjects shows an overall increase in scores for each high school and the system.

“We are making steady progress,” said Charles Wilson, superintendent of schools. “We still have room to improve; however, these results point to the success of the work being done. Our administrators and I see the positive effect of the performance culture we are building.”

Wilson is referring to the strategic shift the Bulloch County Board of Education, its administrators and teacher leaders made almost five years ago. They committed to build a performance culture to support the district’s community-based strategic plan and the move to a new state operating status as a Strategic Waivers School System (SWSS).

“Our focus is continuous improvement,” Wilson said. “Our principals and teachers are using key strategies for student learning and collaborative, empowered, and innovative teaching practices. We believe this will result in growth for all students."

“The steady growth trend on both the SAT and the ACT is certainly encouraging,” said Dr. Ken LeCain, principal of Statesboro High School. “I believe these slow steady increases can be traced directly back to our teachers’ closer scrutiny of academic standards and their endeavor to make our students think more critically.”

"We are really pleased with the success of our students, especially in English,” said Donna Clifton, principal of Southeast Bulloch High School. “We devote so much thought and energy to close reading and to extended writing, and our students' success is a reflection of the hard work being done by students and teachers.”

Portal Middle High School’s strategy, due to its smaller size, has been to use its support staff, instructional coordinators and counselors to address individual student academic needs identified by faculty. “We also utilize creative scheduling for prescribed remediation and enrichment for our high school students," said Patrick Hill, principal of PMHS.

Since 2012, the district has worked with the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement to train and empower teachers and principals to effect student achievement by better analyzing and using data to lead instruction and change in their schools. Teachers are also collaborating more in teams, called professional learning communities (PLCs). Teachers meet regularly amongst grade levels and academic subject areas to better recognize student needs and provide more individualized, tailored instruction. By developing common classroom assessments, they see real-time how students are mastering concepts and are able to make immediate adjustments as opposed to waiting for annual standardized test results like ACT, SAT and Georgia Milestones.

“This strategy will lead to improved outcomes and opportunities for our students,” Wilson said. “It is a lot of work, it is hard work, and it will require adjustments, but it is the right work,” Wilson added. “I commend our professionals for working together and sticking with it to put this foundation in place. I encourage parents to learn more about how this is happening in their child’s school to better understand the progress being made at all grade levels.”

A snapshot of the district's five-year trend data for the SAT and ACT is attached. Complete ACT and SAT College Board reports for the school system and each of its three high schools are available at www.bullochschools.org/testing

The Georgia Department of Education will host a live Twitter chat on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 7 - 8 p.m. to gather feedback about Georgia's plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act. Simply follow them @gadeptofed from your Twitter account, and if you respond, use the #ESSAINGA with your response.

If you'd like to prepare prior to the live chat, this is their script. Do not post your answer to a question until you see it posted live and remember the hashtag #ESSAINGA.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session, today at 6:30 p.m., in the Central Office Board Room. The Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education will host a reception for Fall Innovation Grant recipients prior to the meeting at 6:00 p.m., in the same location.

The Superintendent's Report will include a proclamation for Retired Educators Day, an update on the state of the system after Hurricane Matthew, and a presentation of the system's AdvancED Standard Two work in preparation for reaccreditation.

The meeting's agenda includes votes on the purchase of eight school buses and an application to the Georgia Department of Education to make structural modifications to Portal Elementary and Mill Creek Elementary as part of the district's five-year facilities plan. The Board will also place on the table for review the superintendent's evaluation instrument.

The next meeting is a work session on Thursday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m., at Statesboro High School. Prior to that meeting, the district will reveal its 2018 Teacher of the Year at a special reception from 5:30 - 6:30 in the same location.

Bulloch County Schools reopened to a normal schedule Wednesday, except for Stilson Elementary, which will open Thursday. The district’s 15 schools, Transitions Learning Center and offices had been closed since Friday due to Hurricane Matthew. The system has closed for four days this school year due to hurricane conditions with Matthew and Hermine.

“This community has been through a lot these past few days, and we know how important it is for everyone to have their normalcy restored,” said Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. “We have a moral obligation to all children in this community. We believed it was our responsibility to resume school operations as soon as we were able to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment, along with hot meals.”

The system notified parents Monday afternoon via its email and telephone messaging system, website, social media and area radio, print and television media outlets that classes would resume on Wednesday. “We wanted to give parents and employees time to plan ahead to determine their individual situations and make decisions about their ability to return,” said Wilson.

“There are lots of smiles, and it’s been a great day,” Nate Pennington, principal of Nevils Elementary, said about his school's first day back. Like Stilson, some families in Nevils are still without power and water. The district let parents know that they understood some areas received greater damage than others. Parents could address their individual conditions and make the best attendance decisions for their child. Superintendent Wilson encouraged principals and teachers to work with families from confirmed damage areas as they transition back to a normal schedule.

The decision to reopen came after Wilson received the latest information about road and power conditions across the county from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency. By 8 a.m. Wednesday, less than 2,000 residents were without power. More than 95 percent of residents’ in Bulloch County had power due to the tremendous efforts of Georgia Power Company, Excelsior EMC, and line crews from across Georgia and outside the state.

Stilson Elementary School
Georgia Power Company restored electricity to Stilson Elementary just before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Staff thoroughly checked the school Wednesday and prepared it to open Thursday with a normal schedule and food service operations.

Bus Routes
All of the system’s 101 bus routes ran without incident on Wednesday. “All of our drivers, except one, who had a death in the family, reported for work, and they did a great job,” said Paul Webb, BCS’s chief operations officer. Webb reported that he and his drivers were aware of conditions along their routes. “Our drivers are our driving force,” said Webb. “They are the first face of the district for more than 5,000 students. We encourage drivers to know our students’ families and build relationships with them,” said Webb. “Our lead drivers personally called parents Tuesday night and arranged an alternate bus stop location if a section of road was accessible by car, but not by bus.”

Nevils Area: The Nevils lead driver reported Wednesday that all drivers were able to safely reach all but two students. The lead driver called these parents Tuesday night and arranged an alternate bus stop to help these two children get to school.

Stilson Area: Even though Stilson Elementary School was closed Wednesday, Southeast Bulloch Middle School and Southeast Bulloch High School, which serve this area were open. The lead driver reported they were able to safely complete 100 percent of their routes by using different access points and contacting parents Tuesday evening to arrange an alternate bus stop.

Brooklet Area: All but three of the Brooklet area’s bus drivers were able to reach 100 percent of their stops on Wednesday. Despite attempts to contact parents to coordinate alternate bus stops or access stops via another route, two of the Brooklet area’s buses only reached 95 percent of their stops and one only reached 75 percent.

School Nutrition Services
Bulloch County Schools’ School Food Services Department worked around the clock through Tuesday to ensure meal preparation was at a functional level by Wednesday. There was some loss of food supplies, but the department was able to replenish supplies and serve hot meals that matched the previously printed menu except at one school, Brooklet Elementary. “Wednesday is chicken day, and we were able to serve the kids’ favorite chicken nuggets at all schools, except Brooklet, where we served Chicken Alfredo,” said Megan Blanchard, school nutrition director.

“Our food vendors were amazing and made quick deliveries to us,” said Blanchard. “Also, all the school nutrition directors in this area support one another. We purchased some of Evans County’s fresh produce for this week that would have gone to waste since they are still closed. This turned out to be a win-win for both counties. It’s how we all support one another in times of need.” Blanchard added that that schools are prepared to accommodate all documented student food allergies as normal.

Operations & Maintenance
Paul Webb, the district’s chief operations officer over safety, maintenance, transportation, facilities and school nutrition, directed the district’s response for these areas and served as a liaison to the Bulloch County EMA. As directed by EMA, Webb made district bus, fuel and facilities resources available to assist recovery and relief efforts.

The district’s maintenance and grounds crews, under the direction of Glenn Rogers assessed all of the schools over the weekend and worked to repair and clear any storm damage.

Attendance
Bulloch County Schools serves a total of 10,505 students, 10,115 without Stilson Elementary, which was closed Wednesday. Not including Stilson, there were 821 students not in attendance due to either storm recovery or other reasons. Again, principals and teachers will work with families in confirmed damaged areas. The district's attendance rate Wednesday was 92 percent.

Stilson Elementary School will reopen on Thursday with a normal schedule and normal operations. Thank you for your patience. We look forward to welcoming everyone back. As the district has announced, parents can make the best attendance decisions for their children based on your individual situations. Our district School Food Services staff has replenished our food supplies, and we will serve our regular menus as published.

Except for Stilson Elementary School, all of Bulloch County Schools’ campuses and offices will resume a normal schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Students will not have to make up the four days the district closed for Hurricane Hermine (1 day) and Hurricane Matthew (3).

The community of Stilson, in southeast Bulloch County, is still without power and water. Georgia Power Company estimates that power will be restored sometime Wednesday afternoon. We hope to resume classes at Stilson Elementary on Thursday. We ask our Stilson families to continue monitoring our updates about this school's schedule. The remainder of our 14 schools have utilities, and the majority of our 10,400 students, are able to return to school.

Across Bulloch County, we understand that you, or your area, may have received greater damage than others. We also understand some families who chose to evacuate may not have returned to Bulloch County. In this case, as with any major weather event, parents should address their individual conditions and make the best attendance decisions for their child. Our administrators will work with families from confirmed damage areas.

As we return to school, we encourage you to use caution and allow for extra travel time to work and school. Bulloch County Schools cannot guarantee bus transportation for all areas due to some road conditions. Again, our administrators will work with any affected families. There may be longer drive times for bus routes and vehicles. School administrators will accommodate for this as well. Parents please assess the abilities of your student drivers. Encourage them to use caution or consider an adult driver taking them to school.

Some schools did lose food due to power outages. Our School Nutrition Department has worked to ensure meal services for Wednesday. However, the published school menus may be altered as we restock and encounter food shortages for some items.

These are our current conditions based on the latest information from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency:

• There are less than 4,000 residents without electricity.
• More than 50 percent of dirt roads are clear for safe travel.

Thank you for your patience during the storm. Please join us in thanking Governor Nathan Deal, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency, the Statesboro Police Department, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Department, Georgia State Patrol, the City of Statesboro, Bulloch County, Georgia Power Company, Excelsior EMC and our Bulloch County Schools Operations Department. All worked tirelessly to ensure we could reopen.

As with this and any emergency situation, we ask you to monitor all our district communications: the district website, district social media, your email and your telephone, and the media for complete information.

All Bulloch County Schools' campuses and offices will open and resume a normal schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Students will not be required to make up the missed days.

This decision to remain closed until Wednesday was based on the latest report of conditions around our county from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency. A significant number of our employees and students' families are still without utilities. Also, only approximately 20 percent of dirt roads in the county are cleared for safe travel. This affects our ability to provide bus transportation.

Our school administrators and district maintenance staff are continuing to thoroughly inspect our facilities to ensure all of our schools are ready to go on Wednesday. Our school food services staff are working to bring meal preparation to a functional level by Wednesday as well. Please note that the published menus may be altered.

Thank you again for your patience. If your family is in need of food, the Statesboro Food Bank (old Julia P. Bryant School) and the Christian Service Ministry (Parrish Street) are providing meals.

After the latest information from the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency, Superintendent Charles Wilson has decided to close all schools and offices for Monday. We will communicate on a day-by-day basis on our operations. Please listen for specific information from your school as to how this may affect athletics and extracurricular activities.

This decision was made after considering several factors. Road conditions will inhibit safe school bus travel. Although, we expect power to be restored to all of our schools today, there are more than 20,000 residents without electricity. Bulloch County Schools also made some of our buses available to Georgia Power in order to shuttle crews to and from their equipment to their temporary shelter facilities. Some of our campuses are still in use as staging areas for responders. We could not ensure proper meal service due to the loss of food at our schools.

We ask for your continued patience as we assess the situation day by day and seek current, informed guidance from public safety and utilities about conditions across the county.

Please know we understand there may be areas that received greater damage than others. We understand that there may be some families who chose to evacuate and have not yet returned to Bulloch County. In this case, as with any major weather event, parents should address their individual conditions and make the best attendance decision for their child.

Continue to monitor our communications for more information as it is available.

Bulloch County Schools' administrators will have a briefing with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) on Sunday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. Administrators will make an informed decision after that meeting about our operations for the coming week.

Once a decision is made, we will communicate it via all local and area media, our district social media, district website and our email and telephone messaging system.

We ask for your continued patience as we assess our facilities and seek informed guidance from public safety and utilities about current conditions across the county.

Please know we understand there may be areas that received greater damage than others. We also understand that there may be some families who chose to evacuate and have not yet returned to Bulloch County. In this case, as with any major weather event, parents should address their individual conditions and make the best attendance decision for their child.

Continue to monitor our communications for more information as it is available.

Hurricane Matthew Update- Oct. 8, 2:30 p.m. Communications are now coming back online after being down for about 8 hours Saturday morning. Bulloch County Schools has not yet made a decision about our operations for next week. We ask for your patience as we assess our facilities and seek informed guidance from public safety and utilities about expected conditions going into Monday.

Please know we understand there may be areas that received greater damage than others. In that case, as with any major weather event, parents should address their individual conditions and make the best attendance decision for their child.

Continue to monitor our district social media, district website and local media for more information as it is available.

Bulloch County Schools and offices will be open for a full-day schedule on Thursday, Oct. 6. All of our schools and offices will be closed on Friday, Oct. 7.

Hurricane Mathew shifted a little westward over night, thus increasing the potential of more rain and damaging winds for our area. However, it is still a relatively long way away and a lot of things could still change.

Beginning Friday around 2:00 p.m., we can expect to see winds pick up significantly and that will increase into the night. As it stands now, we are expecting winds between 40-60 mph and rainfall of 4-6 inches.

All lanes of Interstate 16 are now west bound only. No east bound traffic for the rest of today, Friday and Saturday. Shoulders were cleared of debris yesterday so the DOT will utilize all lanes and shoulders to get traffic out of Florida, southeast Georgia and South Carolina.

Since Bulloch County is in the Governor's Emergency area, no local shelters will be utilized. The closest shelter to our area will be in Emanuel County and other counties northward and westward of that county. GEMA recommends that those that live in mobile homes may want to find a friend or family member who lives in a more substantial structure and stay there Friday night.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has asked for and received permission from Bulloch County Schools to use Langston Chapel Middle School and Langston Chapel Elementary School as their staging location beginning Friday.

Georgia Power Company is currently using the Kiwanis Fairgrounds as their staging area; however, Southeast Bulloch High School and Southeast Bulloch Middle School are prepared and on standby for GA Power to possibly use the their gyms and showers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

High winds and power outages are our greatest problems as we move into Friday night and Saturday. We encourage parents to continue to monitor our website and local media for information about situations that could affect operations next week.

After a Wednesday afternoon briefing with the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency, Superintendent Charles Wilson has decided to close all of our schools and offices on Friday, October 7, due to Hurricane Matthew. Schools and offices will be open on a normal schedule for Thursday, October 6. Students will not be required to make up this day. Some athletics and extracurricular activities may be affected both days. Look for information from your school.

Continue to monitor our district website, district and school social media, local media, your phones, and/or your email for announcements from the district should anything occur that would affect schedules next week.

We appreciate the guidance that the Bulloch County Emergency Management Agency provides our school system. Thank you to our students' families for your time and attention as we monitored the situation.

Note: We will make a decision on our response and an announcement by 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Bulloch County Schools actively monitors all weather events and participates in regular safety briefings with Ted Wynn, director of the Bulloch County Public Safety/EMA. We have been monitoring Hurricane Matthew with EMA since last week.

According to the National Weather Service and our Bulloch County EMA, the storm's current forecasted track will have it off the Georgia Coast at 2 a.m. on Saturday. No current forecasted model has it making landfall. Continue to stay informed and have an emergency kit and plan for your family.

The Governor has placed 12 counties, including Bulloch, under a state of emergency. This is an administrative action to make state assets available if they are needed.

With guidance from our local Emergency Management Agency, the school system will make an informed decision regarding school and extracurricular schedules for the remainder of the week. Bulloch County EMA is our best source for the most accurate information.

We will provide further information as it becomes available. We have another scheduled briefing with EMA at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The information we receive at this meeting with guide our school system's final decisions in regards to Hurricane Matthew. We will make an announcement by 5:00 p.m, on Thursday about that decision.

With this and all major news and safety events, we encourage parents/guardians to monitor our district website (www.bullochschools.org), district and school social media, local media, their phones, and/or their email for announcements from the district.

Georgia Pre-Kindergarten Week is October 3 -7, and Bulloch County Schools' pre-k faculty are welcoming parents, special guests and elected officials into their classrooms. "It's an opportunity for us to showcase the program's success, increase stakeholder awareness and strengthen community support for young learners," said Dr. Yvette Ledford, director of the district's pre-k program.

In its sixth year, Georgia Pre-K Week is a celebration of early learning and the quality education programs for our state's youngest students. The week-long series of events supports the 24th anniversary of the state’s nationally recognized pre-k program. Local highlights in Bulloch County Schools include themed activities, celebrity readers and a special exhibit of pre-k students' artwork at the Averitt Center for the Arts.

The week’s festivities begin Monday, October 3 with school visits from corporate sponsor Georgia Power and Rep. Jan Tankersley. Georgia Power representatives will read to Sallie Zetterower Elementary School's pre-k classes at 10:15. Rep. Tankersley will read to Brooklet Elementary School's pre-k class at 9:30 and Mill Creek Elementary School’s pre-k classes at 11:00. She will also visit Southeast Bulloch High School’s pre-k class on Wednesday, October 5, at 10:00.

Rep. Tankersley will read the state-adopted book, "Rainbow Fish," by Marcus Pfister. Tankersley has made reading to students during Pre-K Week an annual tradition. She and more than 100 legislators statewide have committed to visit Pre-k centers in their districts to read to students, meet with instructors, tour the facilities and observe students learning.

New this year in Bulloch County is an exhibit of pre-k students' artwork at the Averitt Center for the Arts. Families are invited to visit the Averitt Center's third-floor Multipurpose Gallery during the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority's First Friday event Friday, October 7, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Pre-K teachers and directors will be present to help celebrate the students’ artwork.

The school system invites legislators, local elected officials, community leaders and the Board of Education to visit its pre-k sites during this week. Bulloch County Schools has 19 pre-k classes located at 12 sites on the district's elementary and high school campuses. The classes serve a total of 416 students. Bulloch County Schools also serves special needs students through its Pre-K Disabilities Program. The school system has 38 pre-k teachers and assistant teachers. Principals serve as site directors at their campuses, and Dr. Yvette Ledford at the central office is the program's project director.

Georgia Pre-K Week is organized by Voices for Georgia’s Children and endorsed by Bright from the Start, Georgia's Department for Early Care and Learning (DECAL). Synovus and Georgia Power Company are corporate sponsors for the statewide event.

Established in 2003, Voices for Georgia's Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected to their family and community. Their mission is to be a powerful, unifying voice for a public agenda that ensures the wellbeing of all Georgia’s children.

Georgia Southern University’s Center for Sustainability, one of the school district's major STEM learning partners, is gearing up for its fourth annual GreenFest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., in downtown Statesboro. The more than 40 vendors will showcase all that the region has to offer for sustainable living and green products.

Featured workshops this year include up-cycled vases and planters, pallet birdhouses, and bookmarks and placemats made from recycled Georgia Southern banners. The Statesboro Mainstreet Farmers Market will also offer visitors fresh, local produce.

Activities will extend past the Bulloch County Courthouse Square and throughout East, West and South Main streets, along the Blue Mile. The new Averitt Center for the Arts' new Roxie Remley Center will feature recycled art projects, and there will be bike riding along the Willie McTell Trail. Bicyclists are eligible to enter a drawing for sustainable prizes.

The City of Statesboro is hosting a service opportunity for beautification of the Blue Mile. Volunteers can get their hands dirty and make a difference in our community. Check in at the Courthouse Square to participate.

Entries in the second annual Pallet Challenge will also be on display along Siebald Street, and winners will be announced at 12:15pm. Last year’s competition drew entries from as far as Savannah and included pallet picnic tables, catapults, compost bins and even a bunkbed. Register your pallet creation in the competition this year at georgiasouthern.edu/sustainability.

The goal of GreenFest is to educate the public about sustainable solutions throughout the community, and to share green resources and eco-friendly ideas in an outdoor festival atmosphere. For more information and to get involved, visit the Center for Sustainability online at georgiasouthern.edu/sustainability or contact cfs@georgiasouthern.edu, 912-478-5895.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled work session on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m., in the school system's Central Office Board Room, 150 Williams Road, in Statesboro. The complete Board packet is attached.

Key topics include votes on two items: Board Member Proposed Meeting Schedule and the Fiscal Year 2017 Carl D. Perkins Federal Grants and local plan for the district's Career Technical & Agricultural Education program. The Board will also place on the table for review a proposal to purchase eight additional school buses.

The Board's work session will focus on directives that the Board has set for itself as a governing body and a school-level perspective on the district's implementation of professional learning communities.

Southeast Bulloch High School's marching band, The Swarm, is hosting its 3rd Annual Band Blast Marching Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, at SEBHS's Fred Shaver Field. The day-long event will feature performances by11 bands from throughout the area, who will be evaluated by a panel of judges. The goal of the event is to give the marching bands an early opportunity to perform and receive feedback from judges in preparation for the upcoming competition season in October. Three of Bulloch County School's bands will perform at the event: Portal Middle High School at 3:40 p.m.; Statesboro High School at 6:00 p.m.; and SEBHS at 8:00 p.m. These bands are under the direction of John Gleissner, Lee Collins and Matt Olsen.

A Southeast Bulloch High School (SEBHS) senior, Wyatt Turner, is Georgia’s 2016 Trig-Star state champion. He advanced to state by having the highest preliminary competition scores at both the school and county level. Turner and his mathematics teacher, Susan Boddiford, each received a monetary award of $750 for the honor.

Turner was recognized at the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia’s (SMSG) annual banquet in Savannah. This is the tenth year that a Bulloch County high school student has won the state-level event, and the ninth time that it has been won by a SEBHS student.

Faith Adams of Portal Middle High school placed second in the state competition. Her math teacher is Dennis Moore. One honorable mention is Statesboro High’s (SHS) Neha Aggarwal. Though she did not place at the state competition, she posted a very competitive score. Her math teacher is Tiffany Jackson.

More than 10,000 students each year participate in the Trig-Star competition. TRIG-STAR champions are mathematics students who have demonstrated in competition that they are the most skilled among classmates in the practical application of trigonometry. The competition for the annual honor is a timed exercise which involves solving trigonometry problems that incorporate the use of right triangle formulas, circle formulas, the law of sines, and the law of cosines.

Trig-Star is sponsored locally by the Statesboro surveying firm of James M. Anderson & Associates, at the state level by the SMSG and nationally by the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). The contest helps promote how those skilled in mathematics can seek careers in the surveying and mapping industry.

Any student who participates in the Trig-Star competition and plans to enroll in a college degree program or a four-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree in surveying and mapping (the Land Surveying Profession) is eligible to apply for the NSPS Foundation Trig-Star scholarship of $5000.00. The applicant is not required to have previously won at any level of competition, but must have participated in the contest offered at their high school.

The competition is open to any student who is sponsored by a local surveying company. The SMSG registers the entire state for the Trig-Star, so there is no cost to a local surveying company to sponsor a school. If you are a surveyor and are interested in becoming a sponsor for your community’s local high school(s) in the 2017-2018 competition, contact Jim Anderson at James M. Anderson & Associates, Inc. 912-764-2002.

Knapp Boddiford, an affiliate member of the Southeast Bulloch High School National FFA Organization Chapter, is one of four American Star Awards national finalists in the area of Agriculture Placement. This is his third national FFA title. He will attend the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo October 20-22, in Indianapolis, where the National American Star Winner will be named in his area and in three additional categories (Agriculture Placement, Agribusiness, Agriscience, and Farmer). There are a total of 16 finalists across the four categories, and Boddiford is the only one from Georgia and the southeastern United States.

Boddiford will receive $2,000 for being named a finalist, and if he is selected as the National Star Winner, he will receive an additional $2,000. Previously he won the National Proficiency Award for Fiber and Oil Crop Production in 2013, and the National Proficiency Award for Diversified Crop Placement in 2014.

In 2012 he received his Master 4-H designation in Plant and Soil Science, an honor that advanced him to the National 4-H Congress. In high school he was also selected for the Governor’s Honors Program in the area of Agriscience/Biotechnology.

FFA members who have earned their American FFA Degrees are eligible for the American Star Awards. Boddiford has achieved his American Degree, which is the highest achievement level in FFA. Less than 2,000 members a year, out of a membership base of more than 600,000, ever achieve this status. Leading to his American FFA Degree, Boddiford obtained his Green Hand, Chapter, and State Degrees in high school.

A 2013 graduate of SEBHS, Boddiford has remained affiliated with his alma mater's FFA Chapter. FFA active membership continues for three years after graduation, and students may either join a collegiate chapter or remain affiliated with their high school as they complete FFA degree and competition programs.

The SEBHS FFA Chapter is a co-curricular student organization open to students within the school's agriculture-related career pathways as part of the Career Technical and Agricultural Education program. The chapter's advisors are Brian Elrick, Hannah Elrick, and previously Susannah Lanier, who was instrumental in assisting Boddiford with his national-level pursuits.

He has been active in the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) FFA chapter but chose to continue to compete in the name of his high school. He is a senior at ABAC, where he is majoring in Diversified Ag with a concentration in Ag Business.

To be eligible for the American Star Awards program, an FFA member must demonstrate skills mastery in agriculture production, finance, management and/or research and have earned an American FFA Degree. State FFA associations nominate American Star Award candidates based on the quality of their American FFA Degree and Star Battery applications. American Star Awards winners and finalists represent the best among the nation's thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The American Star Awards are sponsored nationally by ADM Crop Risk Services, Case IH, Elanco, Farm Credit and Syngenta.

Statesboro High School’s Fine Arts Department will present its seventh annual dessert theatre, “Broadway in the ‘Boro,” on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 6:00 p.m. for dessert with the show following at 7:00 p.m., in the school’s fine arts auditorium. The event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the SHS Fine Arts Department. Selections for the evening include scenes, dances and music from many of the department's successful productions.

Each year the event raises more than $1,000 for LLS. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5.00 for students and children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the door or to purchase prior to the event contact Eddie Frazier at Statesboro High School 912.212.8860 or dfrazier@bullochschools.org

Portal Middle High School's softball teams will host the 8th Annual Turpentine 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 8:00 a.m. All proceeds will benefit both the middle and high school teams.

Participants may pre-register by mail or on race day from 7:00 a.m. - 7:50a.m. Runners whose race applications are received by mail by September 16 are guaranteed a t-shirt. Registration fees are $20 per person. PMHS student registration is $5 per person, but does not include a t-shirt.

The 5K Run features 14 age divisions from 10 and under through 70 and over. Awards will be given to the top two overall 5K Run males and females. The awards ceremony will begin at 9:10 a.m.

Portal Middle High School is located at 27245 Highway 80 West, in Portal, GA 30450. This address may be used for registrations by mail. A registration form/race brochure is attached.

Directions from Atlanta/Macon: Take Interstate 16 to exit #104. Turn left at the end of the exit onto Highway 121. Continue down Highway 121 for approximately 9 miles. Turn right onto US Hwy 80 towards Portal. The school will be on your right 1/2 mile past the Portal city limit sign.

Directions from Savannah: Take Interstate 16 to exit #127 and turn right onto Highway 67. Continue 11 miles to the Highway 301 Bypass and turn left. Continue 7 miles on 301 Bypass and turn left onto Highway 80/25. Continue 4.5 miles and turn left onto Highway 80. Continue on Highway 80 (7 miles) to the caution light in Portal. The school will be on your left just past the caution light.

Local farmers are the key to Bulloch County Schools receiving a $25,000 grant from America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education (AFGRE), a program sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. After an 8-month nomination, application and national judging process, Bulloch County Schools received the grant based on the merit of the application, need and community support. The grant will provide enhanced math and science learning resources for the school system’s elementary students. The district will celebrate its selection with the Board of Education, school administrators, STEM teachers, Monsanto representatives and local ag leaders during a check presentation ceremony and reception on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 5:00 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room.

Farmers from across the U.S. nominate and select AFGRE grant recipients. Earlier this year, Bulloch County Schools reached out to the Statesboro Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness Committee and AgSouth Farm Credit to help encourage local farmers to nominate the district for consideration. At least one nomination is necessary before a district can gain permission to apply, but 15 farmers nominated the school system.

Dr. Virginia Bennett, executive director of academic support services and STEM for the school district, developed a grant submission that focused not only on supplementing math and science teaching resources for the Bulloch County’s elementary STEM exploratory labs and STEM teachers, but specifically provide problem-solving tasks and projects related to agriculture as well like plant science, rain water run-off, weather, the water cycle, air currents, building simple machines, circuitry, construction and more.

A group of national science and math teachers reviewed submissions from throughout the country and selected Bulloch County Schools as a finalist. Next, AFGRE’s Farmer Advisory Council, which is composed of approximately 30 farmer leaders from across the United States with an interest in agriculture and education, selected the school system for one of the Grow Rural Education Grants.

Community support for the district’s STEM efforts has also been supported by AgSouth Farm Credit. As part of their 100 Days of Giving campaign, they collected items throughout the summer based on a list developed by the district’s STEM teachers. The company has made multiple deliveries of donated items like basic school supplies, consumables such as straws, Q-tips, craft sticks and cotton balls, and recycled items like 2-liter soft drink bottles, milk jugs and egg cartons. These items are in constant need for various lab projects and experiments.

The America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program began in 2011. Since 2011, more than $11 million has been awarded to over 700 rural school districts to enhance STEM education. In 2016 AFGRE donated $2.3 million to rural public school districts. For a complete list of winners and to learn more about the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program, visit www.GrowRuralEducation.com.

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About Bulloch County Schools’ STEM Exploratory Labs

Bulloch County Schools debuted its STEM Exploratory Labs this school year after piloting them at Nevils, Mill Creek and Brooklet elementary schools last year. With this concept nearly 5,000 K-5 students cycle through a STEM Exploratory Lab experience at least 45 minutes each week, just like they do art, music, computer and physical education. They are the initial phase in moving all 15 schools toward increased STEM-based instructional practices that will eventually be pervasive throughout the system.

In the labs students have an opportunity to solve real-life problems and collaborate on projects related to science, math, technology and engineering. The labs supplement learning that already occurs in these subjects in the regular classroom setting. The labs increase the opportunity for students to make connections in the following ways:

•Apply knowledge and skills learned in their academic classes to problem-solving tasks and projects;

•Collaborate on long and short-term projects with local STEM community partners from Georgia Southern University like the Interdisciplinary STEM Institute, the Center for Sustainability, the Math and Physics Department and other departments, the Wildlife Education Center, Multimedia Development Center, and Fabrication Lab (FAB Lab). Other partners include Ogeechee Technical College's Natural Resources program, the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee and ag leaders, the local University of Georgia Extension Service, the Georgia Youth Science Technology Center.

•Improve student familiarity with data collection and how to use data to formulate evidence-based conclusions in order to pursue more advanced, long-term projects with the entities listed above.

All of the school system’s elementary schools now have a dedicated STEM teacher and eight of the schools have a lab up and running. Portal Elementary, for this year, will use a push-in model, where the STEM teacher comes to the students’ classrooms to share these same projects and resources. The school will continue to work toward the full lab concept for the future.

About America’s Farmers

The America’s Farmers campaign highlights the importance of modern U.S. Agriculture through communications and community outreach programs that partner with farmers to impact rural America. To learn more, visit America’s Farmers at www.AmericasFarmers.com.

About the Monsanto Fund

The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.

About the Bulloch County Farmers

These are the local farmers, who helped make this grant possible: Will Anderson, Tommy Anderson, John Emery Brannen, and Barbara Rushing of Register; Kathryn Bowen, Gina Deal, Amanda Klingel, Shelly Phillips, Trey Renfroe, Alan Spence and Chris Thompson of Statesboro; Neville Rawls and Ray Sanders of Brooklet; Melanie Reddick of Portal and Angela Wofford of Jacksonville, GA.

Alexander (Xander) Smith, a seventh-grade student at Southeast Bulloch Middle School, has been selected to serve on State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2016-2017 Student Advisory Council. The Council, made up of middle and high school students, will meet throughout the school year to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom, education-related issues, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students. Out of more than 800 applicants, Smith was chosen to be one of 108 members of the Council based on the strength of his essay responses.

“Meeting with my Student Advisory Council has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable part of my decision-making process,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a prepared statement from the GaDOE. “To develop child-focused, classroom-centered policies, we have to hear directly from students. We can only improve their educational experiences by bringing them to the table.”

Part of the selection process for Xander and the other applicants across the state was to submit written responses about their ideas for impacting the overall quality of public education in Georgia, and how their educational experience could be improved.

Some of Xanders ideas included the following:
• Afterschool programs for middle school students
• Better homework support for students and parents
• Better organize homework by focusing on one subject per night
• Set aside the last 30 minutes of school for homework support
• A student court to work with principals to establish school rules

“Xander is an outstanding student with a positive attitude and consistent concern for others,” said Dr. Torian White, principal of SEBMS. “I salute his parents for their cultivation of his gifts, and I'm proud that he will represent SEBMS and Bulloch County Schools.”

In his essay Xander also emphasized the importance of community service in education. “I would encourage schools to incorporate community service into their curriculum,” he said. “An example would be a science class doing community service that involves cleaning up a pond. You would learn about the ecosystems of the pond while making a difference in your community.”

“His application responses reflect a great depth of thought about ways to enhance adolescents' experience in middle school,” Dr. White said. “I'm particularly impressed with his strong emphasis on community service.”

Xander believes schools should provide more opportunities for hands-on learning experiences in the community and at school. “I like to see what real-world things I can do with what I am learning, and I know that others do as well,” he said. He also noted his desire for middle school students to take a class on careers. “Career day is fun and educational but this is not enough for me to make a decision on what I want to be when I grow up.”

“It is refreshing and valuable to hear these students’ feedback and ideas,” Superintendent Woods said. “This is a fantastic group of students with great ideas for the future of our educational system, and I can’t wait to work with them.”

Xander is the son of Tracie and Alex Smith, of Brooklet. He achieves high academically and is already very active in the community. He is a member of the Nevils United Methodist Church, where his is active in his youth group. He is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, which he credits with providing him leadership skills, self-discipline and respect for others. He is also a member of his Taekwondo class’ SWAT team which allows him to teach classes for younger students.

His extracurricular activities also include being a member of Boy Scouts, where he hopes to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He plays French horn in the SEBMS Band and is a member of Bulloch County 4H. He also volunteers with the Haunted Forest of Statesboro, which raises funds for the Boys and Girls Club of Bulloch County.

Xander, Shylaci Sistrunk of Savannah-Chatham County Schools, Grayson Carter of Liberty County Schools, and Will Kroymann of Bryan County Schools were the only Savannah-area middle school students selected for the council. Isabella Martinez of Bryan County Schools and Mary Hamilton of Savannah-Chatham County Schools are high school representatives from this area. Nine Bulloch County Schools students have served on the Council in the past seven years.

The State Superintendent Student Advisory Council will meet September 12, November 7, February 13, and April 10 for middle school students, and September 13, November 8, February 14, and April 11 for high school students at the Georgia Department of Education’s offices in Atlanta.

Hannah Elrick, a Southeast Bulloch High School Career Technical and Agricultural Education teacher and National FFA Organization advisor, was named a National Association of Agriculture Educators award winner for Georgia's Region Four. Elrick will be recognized at the 2016 NAAE Convention in Las Vegas, Nov. 29 – Dec. 3. Elrick is one of two instructors for SEBHS’s 11 agriculture-related career pathways.

Matthew White, a Career Technical & Agricultural Education teacher (CTAE) and SkillsUSA advisor at Statesboro High School, was awarded the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia's (CEFGA) Leadership Award for 2015-16. He received the honor at a special awards dinner during the 2016 GA Association of Career and Technical Education Summer Conference.

The CEFGA selected White due to his exceptional leadership among his CTAE peers and advancing the quality, delivery and innovation of construction education. “We appreciate all that Coach White does for construction education in our state,” said Zach Fields, director of school relations for the Associated General Contractors of Georgia.

“He has shown a level of initiative and work ethic that has really helped elevate construction programs across Georgia," Fields added. "He is a recognized leader among his peers, and he was our unanimous choice for the 2016 CEFGA Leadership Award.”

White is an instructor for Bulloch County School’s Architecture and Construction career pathway, which is housed at Statesboro High School. His ability to build partnerships with local and area industry professionals is creating opportunities for success for his students and the community.

Andrew Harvey, a teacher at Portal Middle High School, has been selected as a teacher advisor for WGBH, a public broadcasting station in New England, and their collaboration with NASA. Harvey will help design digital resources for nationwide STEM curricula.

"Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms,” is an initiative to create new instructional models and digital media tools for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning. The digital learning resources will be produced by WGBH in collaboration with NASA*, and will be distributed free of charge through the Public Broadcasting System's (PBS) LearningMediaTM, reaching millions of students and teachers nationally.

Harvey teaches sixth- and seventh-grade science and is also a technology mentor, helping teachers throughout his system with technology. Harvey uses iPads with his students, and says that the success these tools in terms of sparking student growth has taught him the significant role technology plays in student’s lives and the limitless opportunities it presents to connect with others.

He is one of 50 advisers selected from over 650 applicants across the country, from a wide range of grade levels and subjects. The candidates were evaluated by reviewers who took into consideration geography, grade, number of years teaching, and type of school, as well as the candidates’ willingness to innovate in the classroom, resulting in a diverse group of teacher advisers.

Three years ago, Bulloch County Schools' student chess clubs, began donating chess boards and time clocks to Uganda and Kenya through the Sports Outreach Institute (SOI). How SOI, a faith-based organization, is using food, clean water and the game of chess to impact these countries can be seen on the big screen in Disney's new movie,"The Queen of Katwe," which comes to U.S. theaters Sept. 26.

"The Queen of Katwe," is based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young, female chess prodigy, who grew up in Katwe, Uganda, one of the countries largest slums. Forced to drop out of school at age nine because her family could no longer afford to send her, Phiona wondered into one of SOI's water and food ministries and also joined their chess program.

She became the first female to win her country's junior chess championship, and at age 17, she began representing her country in international competitions and the Chess Olympiad. Phiona now uses chess to bring international awareness to her country's needs.

"Our students have been able to get to kids who are not as fortunate as most of us,but are being trained in chess so they can have a better chance," said SHS Science Teacher Rich McCombs, who is Statesboro High School's Chess Team Advisor. SHS team members chose to raise funds for this project, and they were joined by fellow students in the district through the Ogeechee River Scholastic Chess Association (ORSCA). "Over the past three years, chess students at SHS and ORSCA have donated 70 chess boards and seven time clocks to SOI," said McCombs.

Pictured above are students from the Som Chess Academy in Uganda, with their shipment of chess supplies from Bulloch County. See Disney's trailer for the upcoming movie, "The Queen of Katwe," via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4l3-_yub5A

The Bulloch County Board of Education approved Dr. Laurie B. Mascolo as the interim principal of Portal Elementary for the remainder of the 2016-2017 school year. Mascolo has been serving as acting principal of the school since July 29, when she was appointed to the position by Superintendent of Schools Charles G. Wilson. She fills the vacancy left by Portal’s former principal, Paul Hudson, who resigned Aug. 1.

“I'm ready to serve the students, staff, and Portal community in this new capacity,” Mascolo said after Thursday’s Board of Education meeting. “We've had a strong start to the school year, and I look forward to supporting opportunities to help our students succeed.”

Mascolo served as Portal Elementary’s assistant principal (AP) for nearly four years beginning in October 2012. She was first a shared AP serving part-time at Portal and part-time as a second AP at Julia P. Bryant Elementary, then was made full-time AP at Portal in July 2014.

She began her career with Bulloch County Schools in October 2009, as a special education program supervisor. From 1993 – 2008, she was a classroom teacher and served in schools in Farmington and Wilton, Maine, and Manchester and Hartford, Connecticut. She also served as principal of the CREC Polaris Center, a special education school for sixth through twelfth-grade students in East Hartford, CT.

Mascolo has a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Georgia Southern University. She received her master’s and specialist’s degrees in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University, and her bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from the University of Maine.

The Board also approved Farrah Reddick, Portal Elementary’s intervention coordinator, as interim assistant principal. Reddick has served the school system for 18 years, the last eight at Portal Elementary.

Reddick is a graduate of Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education, a master’s degree in education and a specialist’s degree in reading. She also has a leadership certification from Valdosta State University. “It is an honor to serve as an administrator in the same community where I was a student myself,” said Reddick.

Bulloch County Schools’ three Focus Schools, Langston Chapel Elementary School (LCES), Mattie Lively Elementary School (MLES) and William James Middle School (WJMS), will host information meetings with their students’ parents and guardians in August (see below for schedule). The meetings are a time to learn more about each school’s designation as a Focus School by the Georgia Department of Education and develop a school plan that delivers the necessary support to address the learning needs of children and increase their academic success.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 requires school systems to notify parents and guardians, who have a child attending a Title I school, how well the school is preparing students for college and career, as well as the school’s designation under Georgia’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver. Under the 2015 renewal of Georgia’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver, certain Title I schools are designated as Reward, Priority, or Focus Schools.

Despite the progress made by students at LCES, MLES, and WJMS, the three schools are designated as Focus Schools under Georgia’s ESEA Flexibility Waiver for the 2016-2017 school year. This designation is based on the school’s three-year average (2012, 2013, and 2014) College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI) Achievement Gap score. Schools keep this designation until exit criteria for Focus School status are met.

As Focus Schools, these schools’ faculty and administrators will work together with the school district, parents, guardians, and the community to develop school plans that deliver the necessary support to address the learning needs of students and increase their academic success.

An important part of any school’s success is parent participation and support. The school district and schools welcome involvement by parents and the community for school improvement as we work together to monitor student achievement and set high expectations.

A Title I School is one which has high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families. Title I schools receive additional federal funds to help school districts ensure all children meet academic standards. Only Title I schools receive a Focus or Priority designation. All of Bulloch County Schools’ campuses are Title I schools except Statesboro High School and Southeast Bulloch High School. Under the state’s school accountability system, Bulloch County Schools has the following:

Two Reward Schools: Brooklet Elementary (BES) and Portal Middle High (PMHS). Under the Reward School designation, BES is a Highest Performing school. It is one of the 81 Highest Performing schools in the state. Portal Middle High School is a Highest Progress, one of 162 to receive the honor in the state. This is the fourth and third years in a row respectively that the schools have made the list.

Three Focus Schools: LCES, MLES and WJMS. Focus schools are the 10 percent lowest performing schools in the state based on achievement gaps between student subgroups within a school.

No Priority Schools. Priority Schools are the five percent lowest performing schools in the state based on the performance of all students in a school.

The district’s remaining Title I schools did not require a school improvement designation based on CCRPI results.

It was the first day of class for Bulloch County Schools' 15 campuses and Transitions Learning Center. "I visited more than 50 classrooms this morning, and learning was taking place," said Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. "I commend all of our faculty and staff for how they have prepared for this day and the year ahead."

Superintendent Charles Wilson hosted the district's annual first-day press conference today at the Central Office. These are highlights from the first day.

Attendance

Opening day attendance was 10,073 students compared to 9,683 students on the first day last year. The school system ended the 2016-17 school year with an enrollment of 10, 370.Administrators expect attendance to increase over the next two weeks and enrollment to reach more than 10,500 students by the end of the year.

Transportation

A team of 113 drivers, 17 bus monitors, 21 maintenance personnel and 7 mechanics ensured that more than 5,000 students were transported safely to school on time this morning. They will transport approximately that same number home this afternoon.

Bulloch County Schools' bus drivers travel more than 6,000 each day. They will also provide transportation for more than 1300 field trips and athletic events. Drivers will log more than 1.1 million miles by the end of the school year.During the first few weeks of school, the district's Transportation Department will be providing bus safety training to all students. Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal will visit the school system this month to kick off her school bus safety campaign.

Technology

A power outage occurred over the weekend in the main data closet at Langston Chapel Elementary. It caused overheating which resulted in failure of the main core switch and network equipment that serves Langston Chapel Elementary and Langston Chapel Middle. As a result, the schools did not have Internet or land line telephone service. Administrators were equipped with cellular telephones and radios for voice communications. Office personnel had access to Internet via mobile devices as needed.

Portal Elementary School

Portal Elementary School Acting Principal Laurie Mascolo and her faculty and staff welcomed nearly 400 students to Portal Elementary this morning. "I am proud of the way the school's personnel worked together to provide these children with a great first day," said Superintendent Charles Wilson.

During today's press conference, Wilson made visiting media aware that he had received a written resignation, effective today, from Paul Hudson, an employee of the school. Wilson had suspended Hudson Friday after the Effingham County Sheriff's Department notified him on July 28, that Hudson had been arrested.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Department notified me Thursday, evening, after 9:00 p.m., that they had arrested Paul Hudson, principal of Portal Elementary School, for solicitation in their jurisdiction. I am deeply saddened and disturbed by this information. His alleged actions are not in keeping with the core values we expect all of adults and students in our district.

Mr. Hudson has been employed by the Bulloch County Board of Education since 1999. He served as Portal Elementary’s assistant principal from 1999-2001, and became principal in 2001.

Our school district has never received any complaints of this nature about Mr. Hudson from the public, parents or students. He has never been reprimand by our school system for this type of behavior. Mr. Hudson and all of our employees submit to full state and federal criminal background checks prior to employment and then every five years thereafter. Mr. Hudson’s background checks have never revealed criminal behavior. His last background check was in February 2012.

My first priority moving forward is to ensure the safety of all the children in our care, especially those at Portal Elementary School. Mr. Hudson has been immediately suspended from all of his duties pending completion of legal proceedings.

I met with the Portal Elementary School faculty and staff this morning. I have appointed the school’s assistant principal, Laurie Mascolo, as the acting principal to lead the school.

Our district personnel will offer counseling and support to the students, faculty and staff at the school. I will reach out to parents and the Portal Elementary family and work with them to ensure we are ready to meet and prepare their children for success from day one and beyond.

If anyone has any information pertinent to this investigation, they are encouraged to contact the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department. We always encourage anyone to report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will have its regular session meeting on Thursday, July 28, 6:30 p.m., in the Central Office Boardroom at 150 Williams Road in Statesboro. Key topics for discussion include e2020 Curriculum Software for high school and middle school course credit recovery, proceeds from the sale of the former Sallie Zetterower property, the Maintenance & Operations Millage Rate for fiscal year 2017 and the district's school zone transfer policy. A complete Board meeting agenda and packet is attached.

Bulloch County Schools released its 2016-17 Annual Report in July. The 16-page report is featured inside the July/August issue of Statesboro Magazine, on the district's website , attached below and at the Central Office.

The community can read messages from Board of Education Chairman Mike Herndon and Superintendent of Schools Charles Wilson. The school system's five-year strategic plan, financial highlights and school accountability reports are included as well as special articles and news tips about student and faculty successes.

The Bulloch County Board of Education, at its July 28 work session, will place on the table for review the school district's proposed 2016 School Maintenance and Operations millage rate. The Board will vote on the proposed millage rate at its Aug. 11, regular session meeting. The school system's 2016 tax digest, five-year history is attached.

The Board is proposing to roll back the current School Maintenance and Operations Millage Rate of 9.848 mills to 9.804 mills due to an increase in local property values. The lower millage rate may not necessarily mean lower property taxes. This is determined by the assessed value of the owner's property.

For the third consecutive year Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County and United Way of Southeast Georgia are sponsoring Stuff the Bus, an annual back-to-school supply drive for Bulloch County children in need. Donations of supplies are being collected now through Aug. 5. “We partner with Bulloch County Schools' social workers, who communicate directly with school counselors who have identified children at their respective schools who are in need of school supplies," said Lora Cooper, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County.

Citizens who wish to help can drop off school supply donations at the following locations: Farmers & Merchants Bank, Core Credit Union, BB&T, Sea Island Bank, Queensborough National Bank, Renasant Bank, and Citizens Bank. According to Cooper, kindergarten mats and book bags are the most needed items. A flyer is attached below with other suggested items.

"We assist children and their families by collecting reserve supplies that can be tapped into now and throughout the year as children run out of these much needed school necessities.”

Bob Olliff, executive director of United Way of Southeast Georgia added, “We are hopeful that our efforts will help the children in our school system to have a successful school year."

Prevent Child Abuse Bulloch County and United Way of Southeast Georgia are also joining with Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Matthew Catholic Church, two long-time supporters of the Stuff the Bus campaign. Other partners are always welcome. For more information on Stuff the Bus 2016 and how you can help, please call the Outreach Center office at (912) 489-8547 or the United Way office at (912) 489-8475.

Bulloch County Schools’ national accreditation process is underway. Parents and guardians are encouraged to give anonymous feedback about the school system’s performance via print or online surveys available through August 31. A link to the survey is available on the district’s website www.bulloch.k12.ga.us and paper surveys are available at each school, beginning with Open House on July 28, and at the Central Office. The printed surveys are available in both English and Spanish.

(You may select and complete a survey for each school where you have a child)

The surveys are prepared and reviewed by AdvancEd, who oversees the accreditation process every five years. AdvancEd is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

Input from the school district’s stakeholders is a key part of the accreditation process. AdvancED will also conduct interviews with focus groups of administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, students, and Board members and make on-site visits to schools and classrooms. School system employees and kindergarten through 12th-grade students will also be surveyed. Parents/guardians who do not wish for their child to be surveyed, should notify their child’s school in writing by August 5.

This school year the Bulloch County Board of Education and school system administrators will conduct in-depth self-assessments and work with an eight-person quality assurance review team from AdvancED. The team will spend time in the system conducting an extensive internal audit of the school system’s adherence to AdvancED’s standards.

Bulloch County Schools was previously awarded District Accreditation in September 2011. In that accreditation, Bulloch County Schools received a “Highly Functional” rating for AdvancEd’s Vision and Purpose Standard, and “Operational,” the second highest rating, for all remaining standards. The team commended the District for its caring and nurturing environments for students, its teaching force, and the genuine love that students, parents and personnel have for their schools.

Other previous areas of commendation were the following: (1) District’s proactive fiscal planning and actions that have placed the system on a firm financial foundation during turbulent economic times; (2) commitment to fine arts; (3) a technology plan that was developed, implemented and supported with effective training; (4) value placed on human resources; and (5) effective communication.

The 2011 team also noted three areas for improvement: (1) develop and implement strategic planning to tie all aspects of current long and short-range planning together; (2) establishing additional avenues for input from all stakeholders; and (3) developing a specific plan to address population growth of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students and other subgroups that continue to be underserved within the system.

The AdvancED accreditation process occurs every five years and is used as an internal evaluation and improvement tool. School systems participating in the process demonstrate a commitment to providing quality education programs aimed at improving student performance.

Advanced is the world's largest education community, serving and engaging more than 27,000 public and private schools and districts in 71 countries. Its mission is to advance excellence in education through accreditation, research, and professional services.

Bulloch County Schools' Back to School Toolkit provides parents and guardians online resources to prepare for the first day of school. Visit www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/backtoschool today for everything from registration forms, school supply lists, athletic physical forms, bus safety tips and more. Remember school begins on August 1.

Parents and legal guardians of children, who will be new to Bulloch County Schools for the coming school year, should register children for school before August 1, the first day of classes. All school offices are open July 11 - July 29, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday - Friday to register students. Visit the Back to School Toolkit for registration forms and a checklist of documentation you will need at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/backtoschool.

If your child attended Bulloch County Schools last year, but you have moved to a different school zone or were approved for a transfer to a new zone, please contact your previous school to request a transfer of records and contact your new school to register. Like with new students, this should be completed prior to August 1, the first day of school.

AgSouth Farm Credit of Statesboro is collecting supplies, recyclables, and wish list items for Bulloch County Schools' STEM Exploratory Labs and other STEM initiatives as part of the company's 100 Days of Giving Campaign. If you would like to participate in this campaign to help provide consumable-type items for our teachers' and students' science, technology, engineering and math experiments and projects, see the attached list. Items may be delivered to AgSouth Farm Credit in Statesboro (40 S. Main Street) or to Hayley Greene at the school system's central office (150 Williams Road)

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session meeting on Thursday, July 14, 6:30 p.m., at the district's Central Office Board Room. Key topics will include votes on revisions to the Board's Promotion and Retention Policy IHE, the Transitions Learning Center's annual School Improvement Plan, the School Nutrition Department's paper, chemical and food bids, and proceeds from the sale of the former Sallie Zetterower Elementary property. A complete agenda for the meeting is attached.

The Bulloch County Board of Education approved to place on the table for review its tentative Fiscal Year 2017 Budget. The Budget is attached here and is available on the school system's website at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/budget. It will also be advertised in The Statesboro Herald. The Board welcomes public input. The Budget will be on the Board's June 25 meeting agenda for discussion and possible approval.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its regular session on Thursday, June 9, 6:30 p.m., at the district's central office, 150 Williams Road in Statesboro. Key topics for discussion include an update on Senate Bill 386 and its impact to the school system, football and volleyball officials' agreements for middle and high schools, the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and proposed revisions to the Board's Promotion and Retention Policy IHE.

In December 2016, Bulloch County Board of Education (BOE) employees will receive a one-time, three-percent stipend in addition to their regular salaries. The BOE unanimously approved the release of funds at its May 26 work session. The benefit, totaling $1.5 million, comes from state Quality Basic Education (QBE) funds.

Bulloch’s three-percent stipend will be calculated using each employee’s annual gross salary. Employees will receive a check separate from their regular paychecks prior to the end of the first semester which is December 19.

The $1.5 million is not an increase in state funding, but rather a reduction in the amount of austerity funds the state previously withheld from the district based on its QBE funding formula for Georgia school districts. The state’s inability to fully fund its QBE formula has resulted in a loss of more than $48 million to Bulloch County Schools since 2008.

Georgia's fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill reduced the amount of withheld QBE funds and provided $300 million for school districts statewide. According to language in the bill it "provides local education authorities the flexibility to eliminate teacher furlough days, increase instructional days, and increase teacher salaries."

To account for losses in state funding, in fiscal years 2010 – 2014 Bulloch County Schools had a total of 18 furlough days with a loss of $4,125,800 in salaries to employees. The school system also had one year, 2014-2015, which had a 179-day calendar instead of 180 days. During this same time Bulloch County Schools reduced its overall expenses by $11.3 million.

With sound financial management, the school system eliminated furloughs in FY ’15, and in FY ‘16 the district returned to 180 instruction days for students. In FY ’16, the BOE also gave all non-certified employees (employees who are not teachers) a five percent raise in their base pay. For certified employees (those with teaching certificates), the BOE increased the local salary supplement, equivalent to a 1.5 percent raise. The local salary supplement is in addition to the state salary scale provided to educators based on their degrees and years of experience.

In December 2016, Bulloch County Board of Education (BOE) employees will receive a one-time, three-percent stipend in addition to their regular salaries. The BOE unanimously approved the release of funds at its May 26 work session. The benefit, totaling $1.5 million, comes from state Quality Basic Education (QBE) funds.

Bulloch’s three-percent stipend will be calculated using each employee’s annual gross salary. Employees will receive a check separate from their regular paychecks prior to the end of the first semester which is December 19.

The $1.5 million is not an increase in state funding, but rather a reduction in the amount of austerity funds the state previously withheld from the district based on its QBE funding formula for Georgia school districts. The state’s inability to fully fund its QBE formula has resulted in a loss of more than $48 million to Bulloch County Schools since 2008.

Georgia's fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill reduced the amount of withheld QBE funds and provided $300 million for school districts statewide. According to language in the bill it "provides local education authorities the flexibility to eliminate teacher furlough days, increase instructional days, and increase teacher salaries."

To account for losses in state funding, in fiscal years 2010 – 2014 Bulloch County Schools had a total of 18 furlough days with a loss of $4,125,800 in salaries to employees. The school system also had one year, 2014-2015, which had a 179-day calendar instead of 180 days. During this same time Bulloch County Schools reduced its overall expenses by $11.3 million.

With sound financial management, the school system eliminated furloughs in FY ’15, and in FY ‘16 the district returned to 180 instruction days for students. In FY ’16, the BOE also gave all non-certified employees (employees who are not teachers) a five percent raise in their base pay. For certified employees (those with teaching certificates), the BOE increased the local salary supplement, equivalent to a 1.5 percent raise. The local salary supplement is in addition to the state salary scale provided to educators based on their degrees and years of experience.

Bulloch County Schools is offering a free Summer Feeding Program on weekdays (Monday – Friday) June 6 – 30. The program will provide breakfast and lunch to all children ages 1 to 18. Funding for the program is made possible through the school district’s School Nutrition Department as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program.

Breakfast and lunch will be served at the following locations: Brooklet Elementary, Julia P. Bryant Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Portal Middle High School, and Mattie Lively Elementary. Two mobile sites will also be stationed in Brooklet at Plantation Mobile Home Park and Cody Lane Mobile Home Park as an extension of the Brooklet Elementary School site’s services. Breakfast is from 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., and lunch is from 10:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. An additional lunch-only site will be at Grace Community Church for June 6-10 only, from 11a.m. – 12 noon.

For a school to be considered as a site, a school must have at least 50 percent of its students qualify for free and reduced meals and be within safe walking distance of residential areas. Summer Feeding Program sites also had to meet criteria for approval by the Georgia Department of Education and the USDA.

Bulloch County Schools and its School Nutrition Program do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age or gender. For additional information about the Summer Feeding Program, contact Bulloch County Schools Nutrition Director Megan Blanchard at 912-912-212-8620

Alexis Cribb, Statesboro High School’s valedictorian, is the 17-year-old daughter of Denise and Rickey Cribb of Statesboro. If you have the pleasure of meeting this great conversationalist, don’t let her accent fool you. She was born and raised in Statesboro. “My parents are from Wisconsin,” she laughs, “And I get my love of talking from my dad.”

She credits her parents and the support they have given her for her success. “My parents build me and my brother up and encourage us. My mom makes sure we have really great meals. They see my hard work and tell me how proud they are of me.”

That example of encouragement has led Alexis to do the same for others. Through her membership in Statesboro High’s National Honor Society, she was a volunteer mentor this year for a third-grade student at Julia P. Bryant Elementary.

“We met two times a month during the school day at JPBES. We’d eat lunch together and play card games. Her mother was ill, so one time I brought supplies for us to make her a card together.”

Alexis was able to witness the positive effects of listening, encouraging and spending time with someone. “It was a privilege to mentor her. She did not know I was a valedictorian. I was just there for her.”

Alexis’ passion for helping others will serve her well as she plans to be a missionary in South America. “My plan is to attend Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) to pursue a diploma in Echocardiography. It’s a high-demand field and a skill I can use anywhere in the world. Once I graduate, I want to work part of the year and spend the other half of the year in the mission field.”

Alexis has been dual enrolled at Georgia Southern (GS) and OTC while in high school. Her coursework at GS included Spanish, another skill she’s mastering for mission work. “My mother actually began working to make me bilingual when I was four years old. As a child she would have Dr. Leticia McGrath, an assistant professor at Southern, come speak Spanish to me. Then when I was dual enrolled at Georgia Southern, Dr. McGrath was actually one of my first professors.”

Another skill Alexis began learning at four years old is the violin. She’s a member of the Averitt Center for the Arts’ Statesboro Chamber Orchestra along with fellow classmate and Bulloch County STAR student Nick Harvey, an oboist. “We did not have strings at Statesboro High, so this is an outlet for me to play. I hope to do something further with music in the future.”

One of Alexis’ favorite teachers was Richard McCombs, Statesboro High’s environmental science teacher. “I loved his classes. Everything we did was hands-on.” McCombs shared that Alexis is a student who consistently works hard to improve herself both in the academic arena and in her growth as an individual.

“She consistently strives to learn as much as possible about new subjects with new material and develops this into opportunities to help those around her understand concepts with a much greater understanding,” McCombs said. “From learning how to build a solar oven from scratch to designing a city to be ecologically friendly, Alexis has developed a caring nature of the environment.”

“Alexis is a diligent worker who displays an intellectual curiosity and a commitment to excellence,” added SHS Language Arts Teacher Rebecca Smith.

Alexis is very humble about being her senior class’ valedictorian. “There are so many kids that are deserving of this honor. We’ve all worked very hard this year.”

Sara McCracken, the 18-year-old daughter of Mark and Julie McCracken, is Southeast Bulloch High School’s valedictorian and STAR student. “I really worked hard,” Sara said. “The end of my junior year I realized I had the highest G.P.A (grade point average), so I worked really hard to try and get valedictorian, and I studied a lot for the SAT in the summer.”

Her mother agrees that Sara is a very hard-working, determined young lady. “We could not be prouder of her, but we are most proud of her kind heart and how she treats people. Looking at her yearbook and reading what her peers have written to her about her kindness means so much to us.”

One of those peers is Sara’s childhood friend and next-door neighbor, Lainey Forbes, SEBHS’s salutatorian. Friends since the fifth grade, they have shared a great deal, so it was only fitting to share Saturday’s graduation podium too. Though heading to different schools in the fall, Sara to the University of Georgia and Lainey to Georgia Southern, these two have never let distance be an obstacle.

“Growing up we used an old swimming pool ladder to climb over the white picket fence between our houses so we could play,” Sara said. The ladder is still there; both young ladies have fond memories of its uses through the years.

“We had Nerf wars with her brother, Drew, and his friends, and the ladder was the area of imminent death; you couldn’t get over it without getting shot!” Lainey said. “The McCrackens also have chickens, and they always let us have plenty of eggs, but carrying two or three in each hand while going over that old pool ladder is difficult.”

According to Lainey the two have had many play dates over the years, dressing up in pieces of fabric, building small forts out of sticks and pine straw and creating stories about princesses and surviving in the wild. They will have lots to share about their new adventures during visits home from college. “I’m very proud of Sara for all she’s accomplished, and I’m even more proud that I can say we grew up best friends,” Lainey said.

Sara has been accepted into U.G.A’s honors program and is the recipient of the university’s Charter Scholarship and the Zell Miller Scholarship. She plans to major in English. “I really like literature, so maybe education, teaching or administration.” She also looks to possibly study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, with three Spanish classes already under her belt, she feels the experience would help with her fluency.

Sara has been a dual-enrolled student at Georgia Southern this year, but loves Athens. “It’s an artsy, laid-back campus.” She describes her family as very “outdoorsy,” so she loves to hike, ride bikes and backpack. “I’m looking forward to biking around the Athens area.”

Sara is also an accomplished flutist. She was first chair in SEBHS’s Concert and Honor bands. “Sara is that rare gem of a student that only comes around a few times in your career,” said SEBHS Director of Bands Matt Olsen. “She is great at anything she puts her mind to and has a wonderfully positive attitude about it at the same time. She has been an incredible musician for us.” Though not planning any musical pursuits at UGA, Sara appreciates that the flute is something she will always have for personal enjoyment.

In reflecting about graduation and the traditional speech that she and other valedictorians give to their graduation classes Sara said, “SEB is a small school, so you become close to your friends and the people. It’s been great, but I believe our best years are yet to come.”

Justin “JD” Motes, Portal Middle High School’s valedictorian, is the 18-year-old son of Earl and Karen Motes of Portal. His ascent to the top of his graduating class began in ninth grade, when he achieved the fourth-highest grade point average. Since then it’s been a steady climb. In tenth grade he was third highest, eleventh grade brought second highest, and this spring he learned he was valedictorian.

“JD is an awesome student,” said PMHS Principal Karen Doty. “He was dual enrolled at Georgia Southern his junior and senior years, in addition to his coursework at Portal. We look forward to watching him continue to be a positive force in the world.”

He already has 46 college credits completed making him a sophomore. “Time at Georgia Southern really pushed me forward as a student,” he said. However, the remainder of his college career will not be spent at Georgia Southern.

JD is entering the priesthood. He has been accepted to seminary at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, in the Dioceses of Saint Augustine. The Diocese covers the majority of his college tuition, but local scholarship honors, like the $1,000 Rotary Club Scholarship, will also help him reach his goal.

A member of St. Matthews Catholic Church, JD said he came to faith when he was 14. He expressed that he feels a strong calling on his heart to serve others. As a high school student he has been very active in serving those with Alzheimer’s through volunteer work with Silver Linings. He also ministers to homebound members of his church.

Father Douglas Clark of St. Matthews is JD’s mentor. He has been teaching JD Latin and Greek in preparation for his seminary studies. “When I first came here, he took the initiative to come to me and ask for my help,” said Fr. Clark. “We meet weekly, and he’s also learning Spanish and Italian. He’s an excellent student, who loves learning. I’ve come to admire him.”

While dual enrolled at Georgia Southern, JD took advantage of the university’s study abroad programs. He spent five weeks in Rome last year, where he took a writing course and refined his Latin and history skills. Of course he visited Vatican City and attended the Mass of Corpus Christi with Pope Francis.

“Besides getting hopelessly lost in Rome afterwards, that was a great day,” JD said. “I even got a selfie with Monsignor Guido Marini, the Master of Celebrations at the Vatican. He’s pretty famous, so that was great.”

His trip also included seeing the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s famous works, “The Last Judgment,” painted in 1535-1541 along its alter wall and the Chapel’s ceiling painted in 1508-512. He took excursions to Florence, Venice, Pompeii and Sorrento.

“JD is a studious, goal-oriented person,” said Lance Parrish, Motes’ high school Civics and World History teacher. “I had the privilege to teach him. He doesn’t care to merely memorize facts and dates; he asked questions and participated in class discussions.”

Parrish was also JD’s Model United Nations advisor. “I can attest to his growth as a great debater and his gifted ability to think on his feet. He always requested to represent Holy See as a delegate.” Holy See is the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome (Vatican City).

JD received honors in eleventh and twelfth grade for his work in Model U.N. He was also an active member of the Beta Club and a member of Portal’s marching band in ninth and tenth grade. He plays piano, keyboard and wind instruments.

He and his classmates are a close-knit group of only 49 graduates, most of whom have been classmates and friends since pre-kindergarten. JD believes his times abroad and at Georgia Southern have prepared him to adapt to leaving Portal to follow his dreams.

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled work session on Thursday, May 26, 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Education, 150 Williams Road in Statesboro. Key topics for this meeting include the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget, Employee compensation options, and decisions on tabled facilities improvements at Stilson and Nevils. A complete agenda is attached. No published Board packet was necessary for this meeting.

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) is working to get books in the hands of as many students as possible, through summer reading events, resources, and the donation of more than 100,000 books. This effort is to ensure students and families have the support they need to make literacy a priority this summer.

Statewide summer reading resources

Students can visit summerreading.gadoe.org to log the books they read this summer. GaDOE will keep track of books read and recognize winning students, schools, and districts.

Georgia’s public libraries, including the Statesboro Regional Library, have summer reading programs and activities throughout the summer. Utilize this resource and sign up for a library card.

When students don’t read during the summer months, they lose educational ground: research shows that students can lose up to three months of reading ability over the summer. This phenomenon – known as summer loss – can lower achievement potential and widen the achievement gap.

Fortunately, this summer reading loss is preventable. Research shows that children who read during the summer don’t suffer the same losses, and may even show some growth in their reading ability.

Bulloch County Schools invites parents and the community to share their input about the school system's Consolidated Local Education Agency Improvement Plan (CLIP). The CLIP details the district's programs that receive federal funds. This is an opportunity to ask questions and express ideas about how these federal funds are or should be used.

There are two opportunities to participate: Wednesday, May 25, 5-6 p.m. and Tuesday, July 26, 5-6 p.m.. Both sessions will be held in the Bulloch County Board of Education's board room at 150 Williams Road in Statesboro.

Key topics for input include the following:

The school system's District Parent Involvement Policy that guides the services, events and resources offered by our parent involvement coordinators.

The school system's Consolidated Local Education Agency Improvement Plan (CLIP). The CLIP is a consolidated planning document for each of the federal programs that the school system provides under the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Act and the Georgia Department of Education's Professional Learning Program. This consolidated plan eliminates the need for Bulloch County Schools to submit a separate planning document for each individual program.

If you have a child that receives any of the following services, this meeting may be of interest to you: (1) attends any of our 13 Title I schools (all schools are Title I except SHS and SEBHS); (2) special education; (3) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); (4) Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE); (5) migrant; (6) any academic intervention services; or (7) homeless intervention.

The Exchange Club of Statesboro dedicated a Freedom Shrine at William James Middle School, on Monday, May 16. The Club and WJMS faculty hosted a patriotic ceremony for students and the public that featured Col. Randall V. Simmons, Jr. Chief of Staff, Georgia Army National Guard, as the guest speaker. This is the fourth Freedom Shrine that the club has placed in the school system.

WJMS Art Teacher Autumn Horton and her students designed and painted a moving, military-themed mural to create a backdrop for the Freedom Shrine. It was unveiled during the ceremony.

The Freedom Shrine, sponsored by the National Exchange Club, is a collection of photographic reproductions of original documents from American history. The display includes the Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

According to the Exchange Club, the Freedom Shrine program is designed to remind Americans that the freedoms we enjoy today did not come easily and that these gifts must be cherished and protected. More than 12,000 Freedom Shrines have been dedicated in schools, military installations and government buildings since the program began in 1949.

Bulloch County Schools' Transportation Department is seeking bus drivers for the 2016-17 school year which begins August 1. Interested applicants should apply at the Transportation Department's offices at 219 Simons Road in Statesboro.

The school system regularly trains applicants and its existing driving force. The following upcoming classes are being offered for interested applicants: CDL Prep Class, May 25 - 27, 9 a.m. - 12 noon; and Bus Training Class, June 6-10, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 pm.

Contact the Bulloch County Schools Transportation Department at 912-212-8645 for more information.

Bulloch County will host its first Community Reading Fair on Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Statesboro High School. Book stations, fun activities, games, inflatables, music, food, book giveaways and more will make this free family event one that you will not want to miss.

The Reading Fair is designed to creatively get youth and young adults hooked on reading and inspire and encourage them to read during the summer. Educators and community organizations are collaborating for the inaugural event.

The Reading Fair will feature interactive reading stations staffed by school volunteers and local businesses. Each station is designed to engage the students and pique their interest about a specific book, author or series. Guests are encouraged to visit at least four stations.

Leading up to the Reading Fair, Bulloch County Schools is hosting a district-wide reading competition for all Pre-K -12th grade students. Participants who complete their Reading Passports could win gift cards, eReaders, a bicycle, a laptop or other great prizes.

The Georgia Department of Education released its annual College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) on May 3. Bulloch County Schools' press release about this data and a snapshot of each school's scores is attached. For more complete results visit http://ccrpi.gadoe.org/2015

The Bulloch County Board of Education will meet for its scheduled regular session meeting on Thursday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. at the Bulloch County Board of Education. Key topics for discussion at tonight's meeting include the following: (1) Update from the Facilities Committee on Stilson Elementary and Nevils Elementary roof and HVAC improvements; (2) Report on the 2015 College and Career Ready Performance Index; (3) Update on the district's development of a guaranteed viable curriculum; and (4) Presentations of Fiscal Year 2017 Budget process.A complete Board Packet is attached or available at www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/boardpackets.

Bulloch County Schools' third- and fourth-grade math teachers hosted the 5th Annual Reggie Dawson Math Tournament on Saturday, May 7, at Statesboro High School. The event is made possible each year by an innovation grant from the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education. Members of the Foundation were on hand during the event and helped present awards to this year's winners.